I felt very greatly honoured to be given a Damehood and never expected to receive anything else. So for Her Majesty to bestow a further accolade on me is very unexpected and I feel even more honoured.
I always felt that whatever I had to endure was nothing compared to what the average soldier, sailor or airman had to put up with.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the resilience and strength of those in military service, suggesting that personal struggles pale in comparison.
Vera Lynn emphasizes the immense hardships faced by service members in the military, implying that her own challenges are trivial when placed alongside the sacrifices and enduring difficulties of soldiers, sailors, and airmen. This perspective not only highlights the valor of those in the armed forces but also illustrates a sense of humility and gratitude for their commitment and suffering.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech honoring veterans, one might say, 'As Vera Lynn expressed, our personal struggles are trivial compared to the sacrifices of our soldiers.'
More from Vera Lynn
All quotes βIn 1939, a newspaper ran a competition for the first load of boys off to war to pick their favourite singer. They chose me from my radio broadcasts. That's when I became known as the 'forces' sweetheart.'
It is so important that British children are taught about the World Wars that their great grandparents fought in and lived through. It was a terrifying time.
You can't have it all one way - be on the telly and the radio and make lots of money - and not offer anything to your followers when they need you.
Perhaps it is no surprise I became an entertainer because many of my relatives were natural performers. Dad, who had a fine pair of lungs, was master of ceremonies at East Ham working men's club in east London. I felt so proud when I saw him in his white gloves calling out the names of the dances.
Make up your mind what you want to do, and go and get it. Make sure it is not at the expense of anyone else, though.
Similar quotes
We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we've done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in, and otherwise we have returned home to seek our own lives in peace.
Until we have courage to recognize cruelty for what it is - whether its victim is human or animal - we cannot expect things to be much better in the world. There can be no double standard. We cannot have peace among men whose hearts find delight in killing any living creature. By every act that glorifies or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing, we set back the progress of humanity.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
Selma helped make it possible for hundreds and thousands of people in the South to become registered voters and encouraged people all across America to become participants in a democratic process.
In firing his gun, John Brown has merely told what time of day it is. It is high noon.