We were driving through southern Michigan awhile back and I noticed how the signs on country roads would change between DO NOT PASS when approaching a hill or turn and then PASS WITH CARE once the road straightened out.

But it was rather comical how quickly they went back and forth, because it’s not like a straight-shot through the desert—the roads are constantly winding through the rolling woodlands and farmlands of the Midwest. So it had the effect of “Do Not Pass, Pass With Care, Do Not Pass, Pass With Care…” And on and on and on.

Perhaps there’s a metaphor in there somewhere, but regardless it fits nicely alongside “take your time, hurry up” and “hurry up and wait” as a catchy contradiction.