What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
The British soldier can stand up to anything except the British War Office.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously highlights the struggles of soldiers with bureaucratic military structures.
George Bernard Shaw's quote reflects the ironic predicament faced by British soldiers who exhibit great strength and resilience on the battlefield yet find themselves vulnerable to the inefficiencies and decisions of the military bureaucracy, represented by the British War Office. It underscores the contrast between the valor of individual soldiers and the sometimes obstructive nature of authoritative institutions.
Themes
SoldierBureaucracyWarMilitaryHumor
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about military life, one might quote Shaw to illustrate the irony of soldiering.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes →Marriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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