The history of those who shed those other tears, the history of those anonymous millions, is what Terkel wants readers and listeners to come away with. What's it like to be that goofy little soldier, scared stiff, with his bayonet aimed at Christ? What's it like to have been a woman in a defense-plant job during World War II? What's it like to be a kid at the front lines? It's all funny and tragic at the same time.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
From hence, let fierce contending nations know,
What dire effects from civil discord flow.
From hence, let fierce contending nations know,
What dire effects from civil discord flow.
Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That read more
Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.
No one can guarantee success in war, but only deserve it.
No one can guarantee success in war, but only deserve it.
A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.
A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.
I have always said that a conference was held for one reason only, to give everybody chance to get sore read more
I have always said that a conference was held for one reason only, to give everybody chance to get sore at everybody else. Sometimes it takes two or three conferences to scare up a war, but generally one will do it.
A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to read more
A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him.
If war should sweep our commerce from the seas, another generation will restore it. If war exhausts our treasury, future read more
If war should sweep our commerce from the seas, another generation will restore it. If war exhausts our treasury, future industry will replenish it. If war desiccate and lay waste our fields, under new cultivation they will grow green again and ripen to future harvest. If the walls of yonder Capitol should fall and its decorations be covered by the dust of battle, all these can be rebuilt. But who shall reconstruct the fabric of a demolished government; who shall dwell in the well-proportioned columns of constitutional liberty; who shall frame together the skillful architecture which unites sovereignty with state's rights, individual security with prosperity?
The inevitableness, the idealism, and the blessing of war, as an
indispensable and stimulating law of development, must be read more
The inevitableness, the idealism, and the blessing of war, as an
indispensable and stimulating law of development, must be
repeatedly emphasized.
Instead of breaking that bridge, we should, if possible, provide
another, that he may retire the sooner out of read more
Instead of breaking that bridge, we should, if possible, provide
another, that he may retire the sooner out of Europe.
