Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Society ignores soldiers until war starts.
In plain terms
People only respect soldiers when guns shoot.
What can you take from it?
Respect others before crises.

Where it applies

  • war
  • civilian relations
  • public policy

Putting it to work

  • support troops early
  • avoid tokenism

Questions to consider

  • How do you treat veterans?

Another view

It simplifies civilian views.

More from Rudyard Kipling

  1. 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…

    Permalink to quote #23
  2. So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan; You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man.

    Permalink to quote #25
  3. 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

Related quotes

  1. In case you haven't noticed, we:dehumanize our own soldiers, not because of their religion or race, but because of their low social class. Send 'em anywhere. M…

    Kurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut quote #188
  2. There can be no country or dignity without unity of the people, and there can be no unity without agreement, and there can be no agreement without conciliation…

    Rene MoawadRene Moawad quote #1
  3. In any war, there are people who disappear.

    Leopoldo GaltieriLeopoldo Galtieri quote #1