Former United States chief justice Earl Warren probably didn't know the Commonwealth Games existed when he penned that famous line but it's a prescient one before the 19th edition get the starter's gun in Delhi on Sunday.
There has surely never been such a tortured leadup to a major sports event as the escalating series of problems that have bestruck the Indian capital.
When they were awarded hosting rights to the "Friendly Games" six years ago, the 15 million people who call Delhi home could not have imagined their vast city -- so poor in material wealth yet rich in cultural heritage -- would be become the subject of international ridicule.
For the last two weeks in particular, a never-ending list of problems has been blared ad nauseam in media stretching well beyond the 70-odd countries that make up the Commonwealth. Sport has been shoved into the shadows of a frenzied preparation.
It's what happens in the next two weeks that will determine the legacy of this event and, possibly, the future of the Games themselves.
The Commonwealth Games has always held a "loveable little brother" appeal in New Zealand. Gold medal performances and memorable Games stories are etched in the same history books which record great Olympic and All Blacks moments.
But the last thing such a wholesome gathering needs is exposure to the world of terrorism, corruption, overspending, woeful ticket sales and faulty workmanship, let alone the monsoon weather, deadly mozzies and poo in the athletes' beds that have captured so many front page headlines.
We may never know how close these "Calamity Games", as some have already dubbed it, came to being called off.
Many believe they should disappear regardless, reasoning the world is a different place to when the British Empire Games were first staged in 1930.
It's now a colonial relic, they say, as stagnant as the water of the Yamuna River that snakes past the derided athletes' village.
There's no shortage of goodwill here and hope that the 12 days of competition captures hearts. That Games fever can replace dengue fever.
Whether athletes -- at least those who haven't turned down the chance to compete -- can resuscitate the event will be fascinating.
The heat and security presence is oppressive. For every athlete and official here there are 15 policemen, paramilitary and elite commando personnel
Predicting New Zealand's medal count at Commonwealth Games is hard enough at the best of times but Delhi brings with it a host more random factors.
Will it be an athlete in a black uniform or their arch rival from another nation who contracts a runny tummy on competition eve? Who's worried most about their ceiling caving in? Who was spooked by that suspicious white van parked outside the venue?
Sparc have given up on medal counts after badly overestimating the possible haul at Melbourne four years ago.
However, they and the New Zealand public should be disappointed if they can't better the 2006 tally of six golds and 31 medals in total.
There were nearly as many fourth placings as total medals at those Games, with sports like bowls and shooting, in particular, failing to match expectations.
It suggests New Zealand sit on the cusp of something better.
Swimmer Moss Burmester (200m butterfly), middle-distance runner Nick Willis (1500m), shot putter Valerie Adams and the sevens rugby and netball teams are all back defending their titles. Of those who triumphed in Melbourne, only trap shooter Graeme Ede is absent.
A handful of names have emerged in other sports, most notably cycling, which is enjoying frequent international success on the road and track courtesy of a world class programme.
The two-wheelers should boost New Zealand's booty although matching the 11 golds and 45 medals of Manchester 2002 may just be beyond them.
For Games trainspotters, a dangerous statistic looms.
New Zealand have resided in fourth place on the overall gold medal table for decades behind Australia (643), England (579) and Canada (374) but their 124 golds could be passed by the host nation here.
India sit on 102 and are fielding a massive team.They should clean up in medal-heavy sports such as shooting and wrestling, giving a scarred city and country something to cheer about.
Yes, there have been more pressing things to contend with until now but some golden moments would at least push the news to right end of the newspaper.
