I fought fire with oil.
Meaning of the quote
The quote "I fought fire with oil." suggests that the person (in this case, American novelist Dalton Trumbo) tried to solve a problem by using something that made the problem worse. This means that they tried to fix one issue, but their solution ended up creating an even bigger problem. It's like trying to put out a fire by pouring more fuel on it - it just makes the fire bigger and harder to control.
About Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo was an acclaimed American screenwriter who overcame the Hollywood blacklist to win two Academy Awards. Despite being one of the “Hollywood Ten” who refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Trumbo continued to write award-winning films under pseudonyms until his credits were finally restored in the 1960s.
More quotes from Dalton Trumbo
One of the disadvantages of being a patrician is that occasionally you’re obliged to act like one.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
I never considered the working class anything other than something to get out of.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
The only kind of love worth having is the kind that goes on living and laughing and fighting and loving.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
The only interesting thing that can happen in a Swiss bedroom is suffocation by feather mattress.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
I fought fire with oil.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
Privately, I believe in none of them. Neither do you. Publicly, I believe in them all.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
Now the truth of the matter is that there are a lot of things people don’t understand. Take the Einstein theory. Take taxes. Take love. Do you understand them? Neither do I. But they exist. They happen.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
A good businessman never makes a contract unless he’s sure he can carry it through, yet every fool on earth is perfectly willing to sign a marriage contract without considering whether he can live up to it or not.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
I am one day going to be working openly in the motion picture industry. When that day comes, I swear to you that I will never sign a term contract with any major studio.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don’t understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn’t like a Sunday suit to be brought out and worn only for parades. It’s the kind of a life a decent man leads, it’s something to live for and to die for.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
I will, proudly and by preference, do at least one picture a year for King Brothers, and I will try to make it the best picture that I have it in me to do.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
The chief internal enemies of any state are those public officials who betray the trust imposed upon them by the people.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
Democracy means that people can say what they want to. All the people. It means that they can vote as they wish. All the people. It means that they can worship God in any way they feel right, and that includes Christians and Jews and voodoo doctors as well.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There’s no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn’t a gift. It’s a responsibility.
American screenwriter (1905-1976)
We’ll free every slave in every town and region. Can anybody get a bigger army than that?
American screenwriter (1905-1976)