Literary notes about onrush (AI summary)
The term "onrush" is employed in literature to evoke a powerful, often overwhelming force of movement or change. In some works, such as in Emily Post's commentary on democratic ideals [1], "onrush" metaphorically describes the rapid and transformative surge of progressive principles reshaping society. Similarly, ancient military texts use it to capture the unstoppable, almost natural force of a conquering army, comparing it to a torrent bursting forth into a deep chasm [2][3]. In a modern rhetorical context, the word underscores the pressing challenge posed by emerging organized threats, as noted in a discussion on curbing barbarism [4]. Collectively, these examples illustrate how "onrush" serves as a potent metaphor to denote sudden, expansive, and often irreversible change across varied contexts.
- But the aims of the world in which he moved were routed by the onrush of the ideals of democratic equality, fraternity, and liberty.
— from Etiquette by Emily Post - The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.
— from The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi - The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.
— from The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi - We must have men and men and men, if we, with our allies, are to check the onrush of organized barbarism.
— from The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie and J. Berg Esenwein
