The President says now is not the time to panic. Rincewind would probably disagree

There was a clonk of a heavy branch banging across the windowsill.  With a cry of "Elves!" Swires scuttled across the floor to a mouse hole and vanished.

"What shall we do?" said Twoflower?

"Panic?" said Rincewind hopefully.  He had always held that panic was the best means of survival; back in the olden days, his theory went, people faced with hungry saber-toothed tigers could be divided very simply into those who panicked and those who stood there saying  "What a magnificent brute!" and "Here, pussy."

---from The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett.

Comments

[minstrel hussain boy]

panic can be a life saver. one of the best bits of backstage wisdom i have ever received was, in the case of a theatre fire, panic. run, get the fuck out now. trample somebody's ass if you must, mourn them later. trample anyone who stands up, faces the audience with upraised arms saying shit like "everybody remain calm" on purpose.

[actor212]

This is not a time to panic. I agree.

This is a time to prepare to panic.

Panic rarely accomplishes anything. Yes, it might help you run from the sabretooth, but you end up running smack dab into the *other* sabretooth you didn't see sneaking around behind you.

[Lance]

actor, what you're describing is pretty much Rincewind's MO.

[Uncle Merlin]

Let it be said I never said "Here, pussy"!