“Now, now …
You don't mean that say you're sorry”

Source: Sylvia cartoon strip, p.170

Address to U.S. Army recruits (1898), as quoted in U.S. Army Field Manual 22-5 (1986)
1890s
Context: Gentlemen: you have now reached the last point. If anyone of you doesn’t mean business let him say so now. An hour from now will be too late to back out. Once in, you’ve got to see it through. You’ve got to perform without flinching whatever duty is assigned you, regardless of the difficulty or the danger attending it. If it is garrison duty, you must attend to it. If it is meeting fever, you must be willing. If it is the closest kind of fighting, anxious for it. You must know how to ride, how to shoot, how to live in the open. Absolute obedience to every command is your first lesson. No matter what comes you mustn’t squeal. Think it over — all of you. If any man wishes to withdraw he will be gladly excused, for others are ready to take his place.

Source: The Giver

Patheos, Anti-theist Answers to Christian Questions http://www.patheos.com/blogs/reasonadvocates/2015/11/22/anti-theist-answers-to-christian-questions/ (November 22, 2015)

Ensign Richard Sharpe to the Light Company of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, p. 261
Sharpe (Novel Series), Sharpe's Fortress (1999)

Source: Across the Great Barrier

Variant: When Will says 'enterprising', he means 'morally deficient.'"
"No, I mean enterprising," said Will. "When I mean morally deficient, I say, 'Now, that's something I would have done.
Source: The Mortal Instruments

"American Mythology and the Loss of Democracy" (2018)

Lyrics