The cause doesn't have to be righteous and battle doesn't have to be winnable; but over and over again throughout history, men have chosen to die in battle with their friends rather than to flee on their own and survive.
Sebastian JungerRead
The Army might screw you and your girlfriend might dump you and the enemy might kill you, but the shared commitment to safeguard one another’s lives is unnegotiable and only deepens with time. The willingness to die for another person is a form of love that even religions fail to inspire, and the experience of it changes a person profoundly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Love is shown through deep commitment and the willingness to sacrifice for one another.
Sebastian Junger's quote emphasizes the profound bond formed between individuals in high-stakes situations, particularly within the military context. It suggests that true love involves a shared commitment to protect each other, and this commitment is not only unyielding but deepens over time through experiences that challenge and reshape one's character. The willingness to sacrifice oneself for another, which transcends ordinary relationships, reflects a level of love that surpasses even spiritual teachings, leading to a transformative personal experience.
Themes
CommitmentSacrificeLoveRelationshipMilitaryTransformation
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a veteran's event to emphasize the bond formed in combat.
More from Sebastian Junger
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In some ways, risk-taking is the ultimate act of self-indulgence , an obscene insult to the preciousness of life. And yet, how can one dismiss something that persists despite every reasonable theory that it shouldn't?
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I decided to start a medical training program for freelancers, only freelancers. They're the ones who are doing most of the combat reporting. They're taking most of the risks. They're absorbing most of the casualties. And they're the most underserved and under-resourced of everyone in the entire news business.
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