Nothing, the commanders say, but a widening gyre, and things falling apart, and, finally, mere anarchy being loosed in the cradle of civilization.

It must mean that if the bedrock principle of any activity - chess or war, football or diplomacy - is set aside, then mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

"The principle of legal authority must be upheld, or we'll degenerate into mere anarchy'" thundered a fat, frowning man.

For in his case the pagan accusation is really true: his mercy would mean mere anarchy.

After references in three shows to Yeats's "The Second Coming" - the last allusion to the rough beast slouching toward Bethlehem by A.J. at the diner table in the final scene - the least Mr. Chase could have dished up was some "mere anarchy."

So what was going on, then, might be mere anarchy, rather than a clear-cut revolt of the underclass against its lords.

Presidents from Harry S. Truman to Bill Clinton have justified American political interference abroad as necessary to promote democracy or combat the spread of communism, totalitarianism or mere anarchy.

The result is not mere anarchy, but the musical corollary to a philosophical critique of music's decline in a market-driven culture.

I was thinking of "The Second Coming," by Yeats, the chilling prophetic dream of "mere anarchy" loosed on the world.