“In the US. Infantry Manual published during World War II, the soldier was told what to do if a live grenade fell into the trench where he and others were sitting: to wrap himself around the grenade so as to at least save the others.”

— Anatol Rapoport

If no one "volunteered," all would be killed, and there were only a few seconds to decide who would be the hero.
Anatol Rapoport (1988), quoted in: William Poundstone (2011) Prisoner's Dilemma. p. 203
1970s and later

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Anatol Rapoport 45

Russian-born American mathematical psychologist 1911–2007

Anatol Rapoport (1911–2007) Russian-born American mathematical psychologist

Anatol Rapoport (1988), quoted in: William Poundstone (2011) Prisoner's Dilemma. p. 203
1970s and later

“Reagan plays with fire. He doesn't care about international peace. He plays as if he was in the theater. Reagan wants to dominate the world. He wants to find justification to make war. If he does this, if it goes on like this, a cataclysm will take place. Reagan should come and see that I am not a terrorist in a trench with a grenade in my pocket.”

Muammar Gaddafi (1942–2011) Libyan revolutionary, politician and political theorist

The Pittsburgh Press (3 August 1986) "Gadhafi, the man the world loves to hate" by Marie Colvin (UPI)

“Percy hefted a bronze grenade. ‘I hope you labelled these right.’
He yelled, ‘Die, Romans!’ and lobbed the grenade over the wall.”

Rick Riordan book The Blood of Olympus

Source: The Blood of Olympus

“One looks like a grenade went off in there. The other looks like a bad knife cut.”

Peter Rhee (1961) American surgeon

Comparing gunshot wounds from AR-15 style rifles and handguns ([Sarah, Zhang, June 17, 2016, September 24, 2018, What an AR-15 can do to the Human Body, Wired, https://www.wired.com/2016/06/ar-15-can-human-body/]; [America’s Failure to Protect Its Children from School Shootings Is a National Disgrace, John, Cassidy, February 15, 2018, September 24, 2018, The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/americas-failure-to-protect-its-children-from-school-shootings-is-a-national-disgrace-parkland-florida]; [The one number that shows America’s problem with school shootings is unique, Amanda, Erickson, February 15, 2018, September 24, 2018, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/02/15/the-one-number-that-shows-americas-problem-with-school-shootings-is-unique/]).

“Her only thought was of getting away, as if she were carrying a live grenade from inside the house, so that when it exploded, it would destroy just herself.”

Jennifer Egan A Visit from the Goon Squad

Source: A Visit from the Goon Squad

“Insecurites are about as useful as trying to put the pin back in the grenade.”

Brandon Boyd (1976) American rock singer, writer and visual artist

Lyrics, A Crow Left of the Murder... (2004)

“Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.”

Norman Mailer (1923–2007) American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, film maker, actor and political candidate

Newsweek (22 October 1984)

“(Sylvia at typewriter) For feminine protection, every day use a hand grenade.”

Nicole Hollander (1939) Cartoonist

Source: Sylvia cartoon strip, p. 112

“Sometimes men throw themselves on grenades
and burst like paper bags of guts
to save their comrades.
I can admire that.
But rats and cholera have won many wars.
Those, and potatoes,
or the absence of them.”

Margaret Atwood book Morning in the Burned House

Morning in the Burned House (1995), The Loneliness of the Military Historian
Context: Despite the propaganda, there are no monsters,
or none that can be finally buried.
Finish one off, and circumstances
and the radio create another.
Believe me: whole armies have prayed fervently
to God all night and meant it,
and been slaughtered anyway.
Brutality wins frequently,
and large outcomes have turned on the invention
of a mechanical device, viz. radar.
True, valour sometimes counts for something,
as at Thermopylae. Sometimes being right —
though ultimate virtue, by agreed tradition,
is decided by the winner.
Sometimes men throw themselves on grenades
and burst like paper bags of guts
to save their comrades.
I can admire that.
But rats and cholera have won many wars.
Those, and potatoes,
or the absence of them.

“A man is of no use to this world, of no use to society or the neighborhood in which he lives, who has no other object in view than making a fortune for himself and his family, little caring what becomes of those around him.”

Samuel Fielden (1847–1922) American anarchist

Statement to the Court (1886)

“In the US. Infantry Manual published during World War II, the soldier was told what to do if a live grenade fell into the trench where he and others were sitting: to wrap himself around the grenade so as to at least save the others.”

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Anatol Rapoport 45

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