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About this quote

What does it mean?
Kipling describes the stripping of military insignia and hanging of a soldier, highlighting the finality of military punishment.
In plain terms
Soldiers are punished severely by removing rank and executing them.
What can you take from it?
Military discipline can lead to extreme punishment.

Where it applies

  • court martial
  • historical events

Putting it to work

  • understand consequences of breaking rules

Questions to consider

  • Is public punishment effective?
  • How do we balance discipline and mercy?

Another view

It normalizes execution as a routine military act.

More from Rudyard Kipling

  1. 'What are the bugles blowin' for?' said Files-on-Parade. 'To turn you out, to turn you out', the Colour-Sergeant said.

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  2. We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all yo…

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  3. And oft-times cometh our wise Lord God, master of every trade, And tells them tales of His daily toil, of Edens newly made; And they rise to their feet as He p…

    Permalink to quote #20

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