August Quote by A. E. Housman
“These, in the day when heaven was falling, The hour when earth's foundations fled, Followed their mercenary calling And took their wages and are dead. The British regulars who made the retreat from Mons, beginning August 24, 1914.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Soldier" (World War I) excerpt
The poem reflects on soldiers' sacrifice, confronting death and the futility of war.
In simple terms: Soldiers die, leaving behind their broken world.
Key Takeaway
Remember the cost of conflict.
Themes
war
sacrifice
history
mortality
legacy
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
poetic
historical
When to use this quote
- remembrance ceremonies
- history lessons
- peace advocacy
- military education
Key Concepts
human cost
military history
poetry
memory
national identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this say about society's view of war?
- How can we honor the fallen beyond rhetoric?
A Different Perspective
The romanticized view may overlook individual trauma.
![“Mithridates, he died old. Housman's passage is based on the belief of the ancients that Mithridates the Great [c. 135-63 B.C.] had so saturated his body with poisons that none could injure him. When captured by the Romans he tried in vain to poison himself, then ordered a Gallic mercenary to kill…” quote by A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/a-e-housman-8360_belief_mithridates-he-died-old-housman-s-passag_1154685.jpg)
![“It [August 10th 1792] was the bloodiest day of the Revolution so far, but also one of the most decisive.” quote by William Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d89/william-doyle-68265_august_it-august-10th-1792-was-the-bloodiest-da_77206.jpg)
