Language has unmistakably made plain that memory is not an instrument for exploring the past but its theater. It is the medium of past experience, just as the earth is the medium in which dead cities lie buried.
Walter BenjaminRead
Americans tended to think of war as something that had to be done from time to time, for a particular purpose or goal. They fought not for the sake of fighting but for the sake of winning.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the American perspective on war as a necessary action taken for specific goals rather than for conflict's sake.
David Hackett Fischer emphasizes that for Americans, war is not an end in itself but a means to achieve defined objectives. This viewpoint underscores a strategic approach to conflict, where the motivation lies in the pursuit of victory and fulfillment of purpose, rather than embracing war as a mere act of aggression.
Themes
WarVictoryPurposeConflictStrategy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on military history, one might reference this quote to highlight the American philosophy towards warfare.
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