--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I said, 'I have heard people talk about…" description: "\"“I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing.' Ah!' said [Captain], 'I should think they never saw it. No doubt it is ve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/anna-sewell-13394_brave-men_i-said-i-have-heard-people-talk-about-wa_3213135.jpg" --- # I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a… ![“I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing.' Ah!' said [Captain], 'I should think they never saw it. No doubt it is very fine when there is no enemy, when it is just exercise and parade, and sham-fight. Yes, it is very fine then; but when thousands of good brave men…” quote by Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/anna-sewell-13394_brave-men_i-said-i-have-heard-people-talk-about-wa_3213135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/anna-sewell-13394_brave-men_i-said-i-have-heard-people-talk-about-wa_3213135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/anna-sewell-13394_brave-men_i-said-i-have-heard-people-talk-about-wa_3213135.jpg) > ““I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing.' Ah!' said \[Captain\], 'I should think they never saw it. No doubt it is very fine when there is no enemy, when it is just exercise and parade, and sham-fight. Yes, it is very fine then; but when thousands of good brave men and horses are killed, or crippled for life, it has a very different look.' Do you know what they fought about?' said I. No,' he said, 'that is more than a horse can understand, but the enemy must have been awfully wicked people, if it was right to go all that way over the sea on purpose to kill them.”” [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War is glorified when distant, but its brutal reality is horrific and morally complex. **In simple terms:** War looks noble from afar but is terrible up close. Key Takeaway Recognize war’s true cost before praising it. Themes war morality humanity Mood somber reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - military training - political debate - historical analysis - peace activism Key Concepts ethical conflict psychology of violence Questions to Reflect On - What does “fine” mean in the context of war? - How can societies confront the reality of conflict? A Different Perspective Glorification can ignore victims’ suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-men/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Valor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valor/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wicked People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-people/) ## Related quotes > [“No," he said, "that is more than a horse can understand, but the enemy must have been awfully wicked people, if it was right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/no-he-said-that-is-more-than-a-horse-can-understand-but-the-enemy/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [If you hate the war, that’s fine. But you should still support the troops. They don’t get to pick where they’re deployed. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/if-you-hate-the-war-that-s-fine-but-you-should-still-support-the/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [To love our enemy is impossible. The moment we understand our enemy, we feel compassion towards him/her, and he/she is no longer our enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/to-love-our-enemy-is-impossible-the-moment-we-understand-our-enemy-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Man is, without doubt, the defacer, the destroyer. But spending at least the last three years in trying to understand the enemy has almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/man-is-without-doubt-the-defacer-the-destroyer-but-spending-at-least/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [When I understand my Enemy well to defeat him, then in that moment, I also love him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ender-wiggin/when-i-understand-my-enemy-well-to-defeat-him-then-in-that-moment-i/) Andrew Ender Wiggin > [Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows you are closest to your breakthrough. He'd leave you alone if he thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/understand-that-the-enemy-always-fights-the-hardest-when-he-knows-you/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Death. Now, that was an interesting notion. One that, perhaps, he should have been more familiar with than any other being, but the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/death-now-that-was-an-interesting-notion-one-that-perhaps-he-should/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [When I understand my enemy well enough to DEFEAT him,then in that moment,I also LOVE him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ender-wiggin/when-i-understand-my-enemy-well-enough-to-defeat-him-then-in-that/) Andrew Ender Wiggin > [“To beat your enemy, you must understand what your enemy wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-chercover/to-beat-your-enemy-you-must-understand-what-your-enemy-wants/) [Sean Chercover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-chercover/) > [“And it came down to this: In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/and-it-came-down-to-this-in-the-moment-when-i-truly-understand-my/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/in-the-moment-when-i-truly-understand-my-enemy-understand-him-well-2/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [One has to understand what the enemy is all about: the enemy's history, the enemy's culture, the enemy's aspirations. If you understand these well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/one-has-to-understand-what-the-enemy-is-all-about-the-enemy-s-history/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/in-the-moment-when-i-truly-understand-my-enemy-understand-him-well/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Understand both yourself and your enemy, and you shall always emerge victorious”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/understand-both-yourself-and-your-enemy-and-you-shall-always-emerge/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) ## More by Anna Sewell > [My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/my-doctrine-is-this-that-if-we-see-cruelty-or-wrong-that-we-have-the/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“Now I say, that with cruelty and oppression it is everybody's business to interfere when they see it; you did right my boy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/now-i-say-that-with-cruelty-and-oppression-it-is-everybody-s-business/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [If a thing is right it can be done, and if it is wrong it can be done without; and a good man will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/if-a-thing-is-right-it-can-be-done-and-if-it-is-wrong-it-can-be-done/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“I had never heard that before; and so poor Rob Roy who was killed at that hunt was my brother! I did not wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/i-had-never-heard-that-before-and-so-poor-rob-roy-who-was-killed-at/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/do-your-work-with-a-good-will-lift-your-feet-up-well-when-you-trot/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [He has known joy and violence. Felt the warmth of children and the cruelty of abuse. He has nearly died saving lives and merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/he-has-known-joy-and-violence-felt-the-warmth-of-children-and-the/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [Why don't they cut their own children's ears into points to make them look sharp? Why don't they cut off their noses to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/why-don-t-they-cut-their-own-children-s-ears-into-points-to-make-them/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“Oh! if people knew what a comfort to a horse a light hand is, and how it keeps a good mouth and a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/oh-if-people-knew-what-a-comfort-to-a-horse-a-light-hand-is-and-how/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/there-is-no-religion-without-love-and-people-may-talk-as-much-as-they/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [God had given men reason, by which they could find out things for themselves, but He had given animals knowledge which did not depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/god-had-given-men-reason-by-which-they-could-find-out-things-for/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“Whilst I was young I lived upon my mother's milk, as I could not eat grass. In the daytime I ran by her side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/whilst-i-was-young-i-lived-upon-my-mother-s-milk-as-i-could-not-eat/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“If they strain me up tight, why, let 'em look out! I can't bear it, and I won't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/if-they-strain-me-up-tight-why-let-em-look-out-i-can-t-bear-it-and-i/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [If you get into the habit of being quick it is just as easy as being slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/if-you-get-into-the-habit-of-being-quick-it-is-just-as-easy-as-being/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond clear water in it. Some shady trees leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/the-first-place-that-i-can-well-remember-was-a-large-pleasant-meadow/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [“My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/my-troubles-are-all-over-and-i-am-at-home-and-often-before-i-am-quite/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) [Explore all 50 Anna Sewell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) ## More Brave men quotes > [New Mexico is full of brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-udall/new-mexico-is-full-of-brave-men-and-women-who-have-dedicated-their/) [Tom Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-udall/) > [Even brave men, and D'Arnot was a brave man, are sometimes frightened by solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/even-brave-men-and-d-arnot-was-a-brave-man-are-sometimes-frightened/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [May God bless all of our brave men and women in uniform for everything they do to uphold and defend our Constitution and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/may-god-bless-all-of-our-brave-men-and-women-in-uniform-for/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [Only the brave men and women can bring peace to the world, not by practicing war but by practicing nonviolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/only-the-brave-men-and-women-can-bring-peace-to-the-world-not-by/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [The word military now has a new meaning for me. I just wanted to tell everyone who serves for our country thank you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/the-word-military-now-has-a-new-meaning-for-me-i-just-wanted-to-tell/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/peace-has-its-victories-but-it-takes-brave-men-and-women-to-win-them/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [ Small business is the gateway to opportunity for those who want a piece of the American dream. \[...\] Well, wouldn't it be nice to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/small-business-is-the-gateway-to-opportunity-for-those-who-want-a/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The brave men die in war. It takes great luck or judgment not to be killed. 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Here brave men struggled and died for the right as God gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/here-in-the-dread-tribunal-of-last-resort-valor-contended-against/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/after-a-decade-of-grinding-war-our-brave-men-and-women-in-uniform-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am ready to act, if I can find brave men to help me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/i-am-ready-to-act-if-i-can-find-brave-men-to-help-me/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [The fewer blows, the better. Brave men fight if they must; wise men never fight if they can help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-fewer-blows-the-better-brave-men-fight-if-they-must-wise-men/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) [Browse all 189 Brave men quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-men/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing.' Ah!' said [Captain], 'I should think they never saw it. No doubt it is very fine when there is no enemy, when it is just exercise and parade, and sham-fight. Yes, it is very fine then; but when thousands of good brave men and horses are killed, or crippled for life, it has a very different look.' Do you know what they fought about?' said I. 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