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KRYTEN: I beg you to reconsider, Sir. Human history is resplendent with
examples of such sacrifice. Remember Captain Oates: "I'm going out
for a walk. I may be some time."
RIMMER: Yes, but the thing is, about Captain Oates; the thing you have to
remember about Captain Oates; Captain Oates ... Captain Oates was a
prat. If that'd been me, I'd've stayed in the tent, whacked Scott over
the head with a frozen husky, and then eaten him.
LISTER: You would too, wouldn't you?
RIMMER: History, Lister, is written by the winners. How do we know that
Oates went out for this legendary walk? From the only surviving
document: Scott's diary. And he's hardly likely to have written down,
"February the First, bludgeoned Oates to death while he slept, then
scoffed him along with the last packet of instant mash." How's that
going to look when he gets rescued, eh? No, much better to say, "Oates
made the supreme sacrifice," while you're dabbing up his gravy with the
last piece of crusty bread.