Common turns of phrase wouldn't be so troublesome if they were simply avoided in favor of direct language and makings of actual points. "We have to fight these things when they come up, but we tend not to," or whatever, instead of defensive profundity. Language is a lossy codec for thought, metaphor doubly so.
Yes. Of course it's "always started". That doesn't render my point completely empty, because there is always a before to take as a starting point.