No heroine can create a hero through love of one, but she can give birth to one.

No heroine can create a hero through love of one, but she can give birth to one.

The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when read more

The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be common, nor the common heroic.

We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.

We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.

You lived too long, we have supped full with heroes, they waste their deaths on us.

You lived too long, we have supped full with heroes, they waste their deaths on us.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Listen, my friend, there are two races of beings. The masses teeming and happy -- common clay, if you like read more

Listen, my friend, there are two races of beings. The masses teeming and happy -- common clay, if you like -- eating, breeding, working, counting their pennies; people who just live; ordinary people; people you can't imagine dead. And then there are the others -- the noble ones, the heroes. The ones you can quite well imagine lying shot, pale and tragic; one minute triumphant with a guard of honor, and the next being marched away between two gendarmes.

Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.

Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately read more

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!

What with making their way and enjoying what they have won, heroes have no time to think. But the sons read more

What with making their way and enjoying what they have won, heroes have no time to think. But the sons of heroes -- ah, they have all the necessary leisure.