The railway trains full with reservists are no longer…
““The railway trains full with reservists are no longer accompanied by the loud acclamations of the young ladies; the soldiers no longer smile at the populace out of their carriage windows; instead they slink silently through the streets, their packs in their hands, while the public follows its daily preoccupations with dour faces. In the sober atmosphere of the morning after, another chorus takes the stage: the hoarse cries of the vultures and hyenas which appear on every battlefield: ten thousand tents guaranteed to specification! A hundred tons of bacon, cocoa, coffee substitute, instant delivery but cash only, hand grenades, tools, ammunition belts, marriage brokers for the widows of the fallen, agencies for government supply--only serious offers considered! The cannon fodder inflated with patriotism and carried off in August and September 1914 now rots in Belgium, in the Vosges, in the Masurian swamps, creating fertile plains of death on which profits can grow. Hurry, for the rich harvest must be gathered into the granaries--a thousand greedy hands stretch across the ocean to help.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
War profiteers exploit conflict, turning human suffering into profit while the public remains indifferent, and the dead become commodities.
In simple terms: War turns human lives into profit, with the public indifferent.
Key Takeaway
Question the moral cost of profit from conflict.
Themes
war
exploitation
capitalism
indifference
human cost
Mood
critical
somber
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- military contracts
- media coverage
- political debates
- ethical journalism
Key Concepts
war profiteering
human commodification
societal apathy
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do citizens have to confront war profiteering?
- How can societies prioritize human life over profit?
A Different Perspective
Profit motives can obscure humanitarian concerns, leading to apathy.