In Erik Larson's book "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania," it is highlighted that many sailors subscribed to the notion that knowing how to swim was futile. They believed that, in the event of a shipwreck, swimming would merely extend the agony of drowning rather than enhance one's chances of survival.

This perspective reflects a grim acceptance of fate among sailors, suggesting that they preferred to rely on their skills at sea rather than contemplate escape into the water. The sentiment illustrates the broader attitudes toward maritime safety during that era and the psychological impacts of operating in such perilous conditions.