An Army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs the principle weakens the army.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the brutal reality of war and suggests that its horrors cannot be overstated.
In this quote, William Tecumseh Sherman conveys that he fully understands and acknowledges the extreme and often devastating nature of warfare. By stating that he cannot qualify war in harsher terms, he implies that the consequences and atrocities of war are profound and should not be sanitized or diminished. His perspective reflects a somber recognition of the tragic realities faced by those involved in conflict, urging a deeper contemplation of its impact on humanity.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the ethical implications of military actions.
An Army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs the principle weakens the army.
Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.
I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers.
The young bloods of the South: sons of planters, lawyers about towns, good billiard-players and sportsmen, men who never did any work and never will... They are splendid riders, first-rate shots and utterly reckless. These men must all be killed or employed by us before we can hope for peace.
You people of the South don't know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about.
War is too serious a matter to leave to soldiers.
Perfection is a theory. You cannot be a perfect human being, perfect artist. You cannot be a perfect husband, you cannot be a perfect father probably and probably I am not. But go through your daily routine with hope you will be a little better in all respects, and do something meaningful
Don't worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people.
It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.
Please learn the pragmatics of expressing fear: sometimes words that seem to express really invoke. This can be tricky.
Without giving up hope—that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be—we will never relax with where we are or who we are.
No one likes having offended another person; hence everyone feels so much better if the other person doesn't show he's been offended. Nobody likes being confronted by a wounded spaniel. Remember that. It is much easier patiently - and tolerantly - to avoid the person you have injured than to approach him as a friend. You need courage for that.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.