Nobody who gets too damned relaxed builds up much flying time.
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
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
Anybody who says, 'My childhood was completely happy,' is a person who isn't remembering the truth.
On his bold visage middle age Had slightly press'd its signet sage, Yet had not quench'd the open truth And fiery vehemence of youth: Forward and frolic glee was there, The will to do, the soul to dare.
There is a moment of conception and a moment of birth, but between them there is a long period of gestation.
I'll get back to the whores and the horses and the booze, while there's time.
I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
Oh Christ, he groaned to himself, if this is the stuff adults have to think about I never want to grow up