# "When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." Origin? Source?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-danger-when-in-doubt-run-in-circles-scream-and-shout-origin-source/371906>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-danger-when-in-doubt-run-in-circles-scream-and-shout-origin-source/371906 "2006-09-08T13:49:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 12

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-danger-when-in-doubt-run-in-circles-scream-and-shout-origin-source/371906/12 "2006-09-08T22:48:13Z")

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> [@Rick](#):
>
> I suspect he means [Charles Osgood](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Osgood)

NOpe. Robert Endicott Osgood.

And a telling statement from [A short biography](http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:Get_fLopY2UJ:www.library.jhu.edu/collections/specialcollections/manuscripts/msregisters/ms204.html+Robert+Endicott+Osgood&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2)

> [@](#):
>
> Osgood also taught at the Naval War College…

I think it’s safe to say that it IS probably a Naval related saying from about the WWII period or perhaps before. Just WHO invented it we’ll probably never know.

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