If my soldiers were to begin to think, not one of them would remain in the army.
While they continued to write and talk, we saw the dying. While they taught that duty to one’s country is the greatest thing, we already knew that death-throes are stronger. But for all that we were no mutineers, no deserters, no cowards – they were very free with all these expressions. We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from true, we had suddenly learnt to see. And we saw that there was nothing of their world left. We were all at once terribly alone; and alone we must see it through.