Lord Kinnock, the Labour leader from 1983 to 1992, calls the Thatcher government "loathsome" for appearing not to "give a damn about the consequences" of wrenching economic change.
The elder George Bush and Hillary Clinton – each an Ivy League-educated member of the nation's political elite – adopted the guise of culture warrior out of convenience, damn the consequences.
But the Hyde Act is clear: if India tests, the deal is off.India would still be free to test, of course, and damn the consequences.
Meanwhile the trio had politely damned everyone of consequence in the upper tier of government - except Vice President Bush whose name was overlooked until 11.53.
Otherwise, it's likely that we'll succumb to our historic modes of exploration: just barrel ahead, and damn the consequences.
Our focus can fall to dark places and we can start to follow the manufactured gods of commerce and a big win damn the consequences.
The basis of what Conrad says, that we are mere specks, I feel in Tholly's words 'live for the moment say I be damned of the consequence'.
Is a tiny group of ideologues using undue power to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries, create an empire, trash international law and damn the consequences?Not really.
And damn the consequences.
They rush forward, damn the consequences.
