In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement, not despair, not the tonic of their victory - there is just the simple expression of being here as though they had been here doing this forever, and nothing else.
Ernie PyleRead
But to the fighting soldier that phase of the war is behind. It was left behind after his first battle. His blood is up. He is fighting for his life, and killing now for him is as much a profession as writing is for me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The soldier's perspective shifts from the broader war to the personal fight for survival, equating killing to a profession.
In this quote, Ernie Pyle emphasizes the transformation of a soldier's mindset when faced with the brutal realities of war. For the soldier, the experience of combat becomes a matter of survival and instinct, much like a writer approaches their craft. The initial perception of war gives way to a raw and personal engagement with life and death as they adapt to the horrors of battle.
Themes
SoldierWarSurvivalCombatProfession
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a Veterans Day speech to highlight the mentality of soldiers.
More from Ernie Pyle
All quotes →For me war has become a flat, black depression without highlights, a revulsion of the mind and an exhaustion of the spirit.
Ernie PyleRead
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