Generals aren't in the business of commenting on the correctness or incorrectness of the President's decisions. Anybody who thinks he should be able to do that ought to be fired on the spot.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
I'm not proud of killing, of being responsible for the death of a single person. I never will be.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses deep remorse and acknowledgment of the heavy burden of taking a life, emphasizing the unwillingness to take pride in such actions.
Norman Schwarzkopf's quote reflects a profound moral standpoint on the act of killing and its consequences. He conveys the emotional weight and sorrow associated with being responsible for someone's death, indicating that regardless of circumstances, taking a life is something that should never be taken lightly or viewed positively. It speaks to the inner conflict many face in situations of war or violence, where the necessity of actions must be reconciled with their moral implications.
Themes
KillingResponsibilityDeathMoralityWar
In practice
Example use cases
During a memorial service for veterans, one might use this quote to reflect on the heavy price of war.
More from Norman Schwarzkopf
All quotes βAs far as Saddam Hussein being a great military strategist, he is neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the operational arts, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a general, nor is he a soldier. Other than that, he's a great military man, I want you to know that.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
All you have to do is hold your first soldier who is dying in your arms, and have that terribly futile feeling that I can't do anything about it... Then you understand the horror of war.
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I am living proof that if you catch prostate cancer early, it can be reduced to a temporary inconvenience, and you can go back to a normal life.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
Good generalship is a realization that... you've got to try and figure out how to accomplish your mission with a minimum loss of human life.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
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