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
Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.
Interpretation
War cannot be simplified or sanitized without negative consequences.
William Tecumseh Sherman's quote emphasizes that efforts to make warfare more manageable or safer ultimately lead to failure and disgrace. It highlights the inherent complexity and brutality of war, suggesting that any attempt to remove its harsh realities will likely lead to disastrous outcomes.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the realities of war and the importance of understanding its consequences.
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.
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.
War's Legitimate Object Is More Perfect Peace.
I'm from Anderson, S.C., but I grew up in the South. So I know what it is to ride to school and have Confederate flags flying from trucks in front of me and behind me, to see a parking lot full of people with Confederate flags and know what that means. I've been stopped by police for no reason.
Roll up your sleeves, set your mind to making history, and wage such a fight for liberty that the whole world will respect our sex.
Warriorship is so tender, without skin, without tissue, naked and raw. It is soft and gentle. You have renounced putting on a new suit of armor. You have renounced growing a thick, hard skin. You are willing to expose naked flesh, bone and marrow to the world.
No soldier outlives a thousand chances. But every soldier believes in Chance and trusts his luck.
Fighter pilot is an attitude. It is cockiness. It is aggressiveness. It is self-confidence. It is a streak of rebelliousness, and it is competitiveness. But there's something else - there's a spark. There's a desire to be good. To do well; in the eyes of your peers, and in your own mind.
Since the birth of our nation, the steady performance of the Marine Corps in fighting America's battles has made it the very symbol of military excellence. The Corps has come to be recognized worldwide as an elite force of fighting men, renowned for their physical endurance, for their high level of obedience, and for the fierce pride they take, as individuals, in the capacity for self discipline.
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