We had set out in a rain of flowers to seek the death of heroes. The war was our dream of greatness, power and glory. It was a man's work, a duel on the fields whose flowers would be stained with blood. There is no lovelier death in the world... Anything rather than stay at home, anything to make one with the rest.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the allure of war and the pursuit of honor over the fear of death.
In this quote, Ernst Junger expresses a complex view of war, framing it as a noble pursuit filled with glory and greatness. He suggests that the realities of battle, though stained with blood and loss, are preferable to the mundane existence of staying at home. The romanticism of heroism in warfare underscores a deep yearning for camaraderie and purpose, even at the cost of one's own life.
In practice
A motivational speech about the bravery of soldiers could use this quote to highlight the sense of honor in battle.
I came to realize that one single human being, comprehended in his depth, who gives generously from the treasures of his heart, bestows on us more riches than Caesar or Alexander could ever conquer. Here is our kingdom, the best of monarchies, the best republic. Here is our garden, our happiness.
The anarch wages his own wars, even when marching in rank and file
The more the panic grows, the more uplifting the image of a man who refuses to bow to the terror.
I am an anarch – not because I despise authority, but because I need it. Likewise, I am not a nonbeliever, but a man who demands something worth believing in.
The anarch is oriented to facts, not ideas. He fights alone, as a free man, and would never dream of sacrificing himself to having one inadequacy supplant another and a new regime triumph over the old one. In this sense, he is closer to the philistine; the baker whose chief concern is to bake good bread; the peasant, who works his plow while armies march across his fields.
And whatever our faith - whatever our faith, one belief should bind us all: The measure of our character is our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country.
Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.
The worst moment from all of this was driving from that doctor's office, to tell my wife that I was HIV positive.
Because of where I come from, I never thought I'd see in my life a black candidate running for President.
It is treacherous on a high wire to change your focus point and suddenly look down.
Where we come from does not determine who we can become. What we look like places no limits on what we can achieve. We should all have the right to express ourselves, all have the right to be heard, all have the right to be what we can be: To reach for the sky and touch the stars. No matter who we are, no matter whether we are man or woman, or rich or poor: _x000D_ My voice, my right. My voice counts.
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