Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.

Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.

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.

The more characteristic American hero in the earlier day, and the more beloved type at all times, was not the read more

The more characteristic American hero in the earlier day, and the more beloved type at all times, was not the hustler but the whittler.

Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a read more

Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.

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.

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but read more

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

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!

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.

Heroes are created by popular demand, sometimes out of the scantiest materials.

Heroes are created by popular demand, sometimes out of the scantiest materials.