“Those who have never fought suppose that the deserter who flies the field is consumed by shame. He is not, or he would not desert; with only trifling exceptions, battles are fought by cowards afraid to run.”

“The field is fought—who walketh there?—
The shadow victory casts—Despair!”

“He who could have been a torch and stoops to being a pair of jaws is a deserter.”

“He fought because he actually felt safer fighting than running.”

“There is not a moment in our lives that we do not go through a battle. That is the fate of humans in their wanderings in this sad world. We are forced to make choices, who we should side with and how we should act. Like it or not, we have to fight. Because those who refuse to fight will be considered cowards or losers. In the end it's not a matter of losing or winning, but at least we have fought.”

“The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.”

“Because no battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools. Be different!”

“There is a sort of camaraderie that rarely exists except between men who have fought the same enemies and know the same women.”

“He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers.”

“The brave man inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country, than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger.”