Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Honor saved the speaker's life, but they fought only to win.
In plain terms
An enemy's honor spared me, though I fought ruthlessly.
What can you take from it?
Honor can save lives even in brutal conflicts.

Where it applies

  • battlefields
  • ethical dilemmas

Putting it to work

  • respect opponents
  • weigh tactics

Questions to consider

  • Does honor matter in war?
  • Would you fight differently?

Another view

Fighting to win without honor risks losing humanity.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. At last he came to a door, with these words in glowing emeralds: the end of the world. He did not hesitate. He opened the door and stepped through.

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. Ender would be pleased - every one of them was stupid.

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. Welcome to the human race. Nobody controls his own life, Ender. The best you can do is choose to be controlled by good people, by people who love you.

    Permalink to quote #15

Related quotes

  1. A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you m…

    Isoroku YamamotoIsoroku Yamamoto quote #1
  2. If survival calls for the bearing of arms, bear them you must. But the most important part of the challenge is for you to find another means that does not come…

    Rod SerlingRod Serling quote #2
  3. I believe in this tragic hour you can make the right choice. The honor and glory of Russian men of arms shall not be stained with the blood of the people.

    Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin quote #5