Nobody who gets too damned relaxed builds up much flying time.
Ernest K. GannRead
The men in this book are fictitious characters but their counterparts can be found in cockpits all over the world. Now they are flying a war. Tomorrow they will be flying a peace, for, regardless of the world's condition, flying is their life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that while the characters are fictional, they represent real pilots who adapt to both war and peace, showcasing their dedication to flying.
This quote reflects on the nature of pilots as individuals who are deeply connected to their profession, regardless of the circumstances they face. Gann suggests that flying is not just a job for these men, but an integral part of their identity, highlighting the duality of their experiences in both conflict and tranquility, which mirrors the complexity of life itself.
Themes
FlyingPilotsWarPeaceLifeDedication
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing aviation students about the importance of empathy, one might say, 'As Ernest K. Gann noted, flying is not just a job; it is a way of life.'
More from Ernest K. Gann
All quotes →Similar quotes
I remember my childhood as a horrible time. My mother says that nothing so horrible ever happened to me as the things that I remember.
Isabel AllendeRead
After my training wheels, my first real bike was a Schwinn, and my first time out, I rode down a hill, didn’t know how to stop, and ran right into a tree. So, that was a nice experience ... like realizing, oh, there are brakes!
Robin WilliamsRead
Life is a lot like surfing… When you get caught in the impact zone, you’ve got to just get back up. Because you never know what may be over the next wave.
Bethany HamiltonRead
I leave no trace of wings in the air, but I am glad I have had my flight.
Rabindranath TagoreRead
Life is conspiring in your favor. It may not always look that way, but it is, I assure you. Everything that is happening, is happening just the wayit must, in order for you to have the opportunity tocreate the experience of your Self for which you yearn.
Neale Donald WalschRead
Some people have learned to earn well but they haven't learned to live well.
Jim RohnRead