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About this quote

What does it mean?
The author humorously claims he is willing to sacrifice his wife's brother to war after already giving up two cousins.
In plain terms
I have already lost family to war and am willing to lose more.
What can you take from it?
War costs families deeply, even when people try to be casual about it.

Where it applies

  • military discussion
  • family grief
  • political debate

Putting it to work

  • consider cost of conflict
  • acknowledge personal loss

Questions to consider

  • How do we talk about war losses?
  • What sacrifices are worth making?

Another view

The humor may trivialize the real pain of war.

More from Artemus Ward

  1. The female woman is one of the greatest institooshuns of which this land can boste.

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  2. My wife is one of the best wimin on this Continent, altho' she isn't always gentle as a lamb with mint sauce.

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  3. N.B. This is rote sarcastikul.

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