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Competition No 3807

Set by John O'Byrne, 10 November

We asked for some deeply philosophical palindromes, along the lines of "Women understand men, few men understand women", or "God knows man. What is doubtful is what man knows God".

Report by Ms de Meaner

As we pointed out when we set the comp, Roger Woddis was one of the winners when this appeared in the 1970s. So a hard act to follow. Some of you sent in jolly interesting-sounding sentences, which, however, bore no resemblance to what was asked for. For example, how about these from one of you: "The shape of a shoestring may inspire scientific theory, but what scientific theory cannot be shaped on a shoestring?" and "Men may promise women the earth, but men go to earth when women try to redeem their promises"? All very true no doubt, but a palindrome more in thought than in deed. A £5 book token for the singletons, a tenner for the twos and threes. The rest get £15. Top cat is David Silverman, who also gets those Tesco vouchers.

Stupid people drive cars fast; fast cars drive people stupid.

Love can hurt, can love.

G M Davis

Fall leaves after leaves fall.

Blessed are they that believe that they are blessed.

Basil Ransome-Davies

Happy are men that think that men are happy.

Mad men make babies cry then cry babies make men mad.

Sara Williams

Education, Education, Education.

Doubt defined Descartes as indubitably as Descartes defined doubt.

David Silverman

Art fashions thought; no thought fashions art.

Persons of colour not colour of persons.

Bill Greenwell

Rationality has authority. No authority has rationality.

Devils quote scriptures as often as scriptures quote devils.

Josh Ekroy

Loving friends get Viagra; will Viagra get friends loving?

Labour need voters; do voters need Labour?

Thinking readers get books of criticisms; criticisms of books get readers thinking.

Ian Birchall

Aren't men just impossible! Just men aren't.

Others betray you when you betray others.

Kids hate adults as much as adults hate kids.

Face your fear; enemies soon falter. Soon enemies fear your face.

Should you say thank you? People you thank say you should.

Politicians despise voters as regularly as voters despise politicians.

Anne Du Croz

Cats love fish, few fish love cats.

Men live without faith; what's faith without live men?

D A Prince

Philosophers are they that think that they are philosophers.

Shall we die? Die we shall.

I am Descartes, thinking a thought; a thinking Descartes am I.

Is Kant categorically positive? Categorically! Kant is.

John O'Byrne

Do I exist? I do.

Gerard Benson

Officially married couples like seeing like couples married officially.

Parents hating children raise children hating parents.

Shrinks need depressives as much as depressives need shrinks.

Margaret Rogers

No 3810 Set by Brendan O'Byrne

We want you to take well-known quotations and think up some questions that might have brought these forth as answers. See below for inspiration:

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." Q: Mr Strasberg, are you sure this is the way to act?

"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well/It were done quickly . . ." Q: How would you like your steak?

"The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday - but never jam today." Q: When is band practice?

As many as you like by 11 December (to appear in issue dated 5 January). E-mail: comp@newstatesman.co.uk

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