That's the reason the olive branch and not the whale is chosen as the symbol of peace.

You'll be able to realise now how extraordinarily peaceable the Major is when I compare him to a dove with an olive leaf in his mouth." "If," said Simpkins, who had only partially followed the reasoning about the dove and the olive--"if the Major apologises for the way he spoke, I'm quite ready--" "He doesn't actually apologise," said Meldon.

"You can hardly expect that of him.

I think myself he's going as far as can reasonably be expected of him when he asks you out for a day's yachting.

Very few men would do as much; and I may say to you, Simpkins, that if you'd been in church to-day and heard my sermon, you wouldn't be inclined now to stand out for an apology.