Well, I know," she said. "You'll pretend you were men…
““Well, I know," she said. "You'll pretend you were men instead of babies, and you'll be played in the movies by Frank Sinatra and John Wayne or some of those other glamorous, war-loving, dirty old men. And war will look just wonderful, so we'll have a lot more of them. And they'll be fought by babies like the babies upstairs." So then I understood. It was war that made her so angry. She didn't want her babies or anybody else's babies killed in wars. And she thought wars were partly encouraged by books and movies. So I held up my right hand and I made her a promise: "Mary," I said, "I don't think this book of mine will ever be finished. I must have written five thousand pages by now, and thrown them all away. If I ever do finish it, though, I give you my word of honor: there won't be a part for Frank Sinatra or John Wayne. "I tell you what," I said, "I'll call it 'The Children's Crusade.'" She was my friend after that.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker vows to reject glorified war narratives, refusing to let popular culture romanticize conflict, especially when it endangers children.
In simple terms: Refuse glorifying war in stories.
Key Takeaway
Write anti‑war narratives.
Themes
war
media
childhood
morality
politics
Mood
defiant
reflective
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
personal.
When to use this quote
- authorial decision
- publishing
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
anti‑war sentiment
cultural critique
personal promise
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape our view of war?
- Can art responsibly portray conflict without glorifying it?
A Different Perspective
War glorification can be persuasive despite its horrors.