The military value of a partisan's work is not measured by the amount of property destroyed, or the number of men killed or captured, but by the number [of the enemy which] he keeps watching [him].
John S. MosbyRead
War loses a great deal of its romance after a soldier has seen his first battle.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The idealism of war fades once one experiences its true brutality.
This quote highlights the stark contrast between the romanticized notion of war and the harsh realities faced by soldiers. Initially, individuals may view war as an adventurous or noble endeavor, but witnessing combat transforms that perception, revealing the chaos and suffering involved, which often leads to a loss of enthusiasm for such ideals.
Themes
WarBattleRomanceRealitySoldier
In practice
Example use cases
During a memorial speech, one might use this quote to illustrate the psychological impacts of combat.
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War's dirty little secret is that some men love it.
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Until we go through it ourselves, until our people cower in the shelters of New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and elsewhere while the buildings collapse overhead and burst into flames, and dead bodies hurtle about and, when it is over for the day or the night, emerge in the rubble to find some of their dear ones mangled, their homes gone, their hospitals, churches, schools demolished - only after that gruesome experience will we realize what we are inflicting on the people of Indochina.
William L. ShirerRead