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About this quote

What does it mean?
Soldiers are ordinary men, not heroes or villains.
In plain terms
Soldiers are just normal men, not perfect.
What can you take from it?
See soldiers as humans, not myths.

Where it applies

  • military service
  • war history
  • public perception

Putting it to work

  • treat soldiers with respect
  • avoid glorification

Questions to consider

  • How do you view veterans?

Another view

It dismisses the courage of some soldiers.

More from Rudyard Kipling

  1. They've taken of his buttons off an' cut his stripes away, An' they're hangin' Danny Deever in the mornin'.

    Permalink to quote #22
  2. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' 'Chuck him out, the brute!' But it's 'Saviour of 'is country' when the guns begin to shoot.

    Permalink to quote #24
  3. 'What are the bugles blowin' for?' said Files-on-Parade. 'To turn you out, to turn you out', the Colour-Sergeant said.

    Permalink to quote #21

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