Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it's been done.
John KeeganRead
Of whatever class or nation, however, all successful participants in the repetitive and unrelenting stress of aerial fighting came eventually to display its characteristic physiognomy: skeletal hands, sharpened noses, tight-drawn cheek bones, the bared teeth of a rictus smile and the fixed, narrowed gaze of men in a state of controlled fear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the psychological and physical toll of aerial combat on pilots, emphasizing their shared characteristics under stress.
In this observation by John Keegan, the author reflects on the intense and relentless stress experienced by pilots during aerial combat. He notes that despite their diverse backgrounds, all successful participants exhibit similar physical traits that reveal the impact of their experiences, such as skeletal features and a tense demeanor, which suggest a state of controlled fear. This portrayal underscores the psychological burdens of warfare, illustrating how extreme circumstances shape individuals both physically and mentally.
Themes
Aerial CombatStressPsychological ImpactWarfareFear
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the mental health effects of military service, this quote could illustrate the physical and psychological scars of war.
More from John Keegan
All quotes →Men killing other men really is an extraordinary phenomenon. Why does it happen? And how long has it gone on? And have the motives changed?
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The Second World War is the largest single event in human history, fought across six of the world's seven continents and all it oceans. It killed 50 million human beings, left hundreds of millions of others wounded in mind or body and materially devastated much of the heartland of civilization.
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