"THE LESSER OF TWO WEEVILS"

The Lesser of Two Weevils (The Patrick O'Brian Sea Novels)

Two weevils crept from the crumbs. 'You see those weevils, Stephen?' said Jack solemnly.
I do.'  Which would you choose?'  There is not a scrap of difference. Arcades ambo. They are the same species of curculio, and there is nothing to choose between them.' But suppose you had to choose?'  Then I should choose the right-hand weevil; it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth.'  There I have you,' cried Jack. 'You are bit - you are completely dished. Don't you know that in the Navy you must always choose the lesser of two weevils? Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!"
— Patrick O'Brian

     The above joke appeared in the movie, Master and Commander, the Far Side of the World, as well as in one of O'Brian's 20 sea adventure books.  The books feature Jack Aubrey, sea captain and Stephen Maturin, his friend, ship's doctor, "naturist", and musician.  They in fact have mini concerts each night aboard ship in the captain's cabin. They dine together.

One writer said the above joke scene was the best scene in the movie.

O'Brian was a brilliant English scholar who lived much of his time in France. The sea novels were chosen for publication by The Folio Society and Easton Press (leather) among many other publishers.  They are all in the Albuquerque Public Library. The stories are based on true naval events from the early 1800 period. This, of course, is the English navy.

You will be forever enriched if you read all 20.