Let my soul, a shining tree, Silver branches lift towards thee, Where on a hallowed winter's night The clear-eyed angels may alight.
Siegfried SassoonRead
I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a soldier's belief in fighting for their comrades and a sense of duty.
Siegfried Sassoon's quote embodies the deep conviction of a soldier who believes that their actions in warfare are not just for themselves, but for the collective honor and safety of their fellow soldiers. It highlights the themes of loyalty and sacrifice inherent in military service, stressing the sense of shared responsibility among those who serve. Sassoon, himself a soldier and poet, uses this perspective to underline the moral complexities and emotional depth faced by individuals in combat.
Themes
SoldierDutyLoyaltySacrificeHonorWar
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a veterans' event, one could use this quote to highlight the shared bonds of soldiers.
More from Siegfried Sassoon
All quotes →EVERYONE suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom, Winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark-green fields; on—on—and out of sight. Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted; And beauty came like the setting sun: My heart was shaken with tears; and horror Drifted away ... O, but Everyone Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.
Siegfried SassoonRead
But I've grown thoughtful now. And you have lost Your early-morning freshness of surprise At being so utterly mine: you've learned to fear The gloomy, stricken places in my soul, And the occasional ghosts that haunt my gaze.
Siegfried SassoonRead
Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin they think of firelit homes, clean beds, and wives.
Siegfried SassoonRead
The dead...are more real than the living because they are complete.
Siegfried SassoonRead
For it is humanly certain that most of us remember very little of what we have read. To open almost any book a second time is to be reminded that we had forgotten well-nigh everything that the writer told us. Parting from the narrator and his narrative, we retain only a fading impression; and he, as it were, takes the book away from us and tucks it under his arm.
Siegfried SassoonRead
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