---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we dedicate today is not a memorial…"
description: "\"What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it's a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg"
---

#  What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather…

![“What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it's a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys and that inspires Americans in every generation to lay down their lives for people they will never meet, for ideals that make life itself worth living.” quote by Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg)

> “What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it's a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys and that inspires Americans in every generation to lay down their lives for people they will never meet, for ideals that make life itself worth living.”

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Honors the courage of ordinary people who become heroes, urging sacrifice for higher ideals and the greater good.

**In simple terms:** Celebrates everyday bravery and self‑less sacrifice for noble causes.

Key Takeaway

Value and emulate selfless courage.

Themes

heroism patriotism morality

Mood

respectful inspirational

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- military service
- civil activism
- community leadership

Key Concepts

civic duty sacrifice inspiration

Questions to Reflect On

- What inspires you to act beyond self‑interest?
- How can society honor those who never meet?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone can or willing to sacrifice their life.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dedicate Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedicate-today-1486829/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Inspires Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspires-americans-389647/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Memorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-courage/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Memorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-memorial-1486828/) [Tribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribute/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Tribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-tribute-1486830/) [Worth living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-living/)

## Related quotes

> [My goal is to be a racer, and I want to be someone who inspires Americans to watch Formula One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-rossi/my-goal-is-to-be-a-racer-and-i-want-to-be-someone-who-inspires/)

[Alexander Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-rossi/)

> [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/)

[Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/)

> [Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/above-all-we-must-realize-that-no-arsenal-or-no-weapon-in-the/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Here's an experiment: For one whole day think, speak, and act exactly as you would if you were absolutely convinced of the truth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/here-s-an-experiment-for-one-whole-day-think-speak-and-act-exactly-as/)

[Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/)

> [And one more idea which may be laughed and sneered at in some supposedly sophisticated circles, but I just have to believe that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/and-one-more-idea-which-may-be-laughed-and-sneered-at-in-some/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Christianity without the cross is nothing. The cross was the fitting close of a life of rejection, scorn and defeat. But in no true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/christianity-without-the-cross-is-nothing-the-cross-was-the-fitting/)

[Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/)

> [It is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/it-is-almost-inevitable-that-our-faith-will-be-challenged-we-may-at/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“You have behaved in an exemplary manner until now. Even when you could have gained by doing something wrong, you refrained from doing so.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/you-have-behaved-in-an-exemplary-manner-until-now-even-when-you-could/)

[Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/)

> [The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism lies, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-comes-from-the-renunciation-of/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/if-you-feel-your-value-lies-in-being-merely-decorative-i-fear-that/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [There is too much animal courage in society and not sufficient moral courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/there-is-too-much-animal-courage-in-society-and-not-sufficient-moral/)

[Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/)

> [Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [The challenge is to resist circumstances. Any idiot can be happy in a happy place, but moral courage is required to be happy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-challenge-is-to-resist-circumstances-any-idiot-can-be-happy-in-a/)

[Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/)

> [Have the moral courage to stand firm in obeying God’s will, even if you have to stand alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulisses-soares/have-the-moral-courage-to-stand-firm-in-obeying-god-s-will-even-if/)

[Ulisses Soares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulisses-soares/)

> [Many say that a man comes along with the moral courage of Nelson Mandela once in a lifetime. He was an extraordinary man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/many-say-that-a-man-comes-along-with-the-moral-courage-of-nelson/)

[Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/)

## More by Bob Dole

> [It's going to be hard for someone like me to run for president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/it-s-going-to-be-hard-for-someone-like-me-to-run-for-president/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people of the United States, and nowhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-will-seek-the-presidency-with-nothing-to-fall-back-on-but-the/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [ The California proposition \[Prop. 187\] is one I would agree with. That's the easiest way to put it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/the-california-proposition-prop-187-is-one-i-would-agree-with-that-s/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [A government that seizes control of the economy for the good of the people, ends up seizing control of the people for the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/a-government-that-seizes-control-of-the-economy-for-the-good-of-the/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [I've never known a lot of rich people. It's not my bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-ve-never-known-a-lot-of-rich-people-it-s-not-my-bag/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [If something happened along the route and you had to leave your children with Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I think you would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-something-happened-along-the-route-and-you-had-to-leave-your/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [As president, I will fight illegal immigration in order to preserve an appropriate level of legal immigration. At the same time, I believe our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/as-president-i-will-fight-illegal-immigration-in-order-to-preserve-an/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [We're trying to get good pictures. Don't worry very much about what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/we-re-trying-to-get-good-pictures-don-t-worry-very-much-about-what-i/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [I don't know how many people run for vice president and president and lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-don-t-know-how-many-people-run-for-vice-president-and-president-and/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [Something is wrong with America. I wonder sometimes what people are thinking about or if they're thinking at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/something-is-wrong-with-america-i-wonder-sometimes-what-people-are/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people, and nowhere to go but the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-will-seek-the-presidency-with-nothing-to-fall-back-on-but-the-2/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [You read what Disraeli had to say. I don't remember what he said. He said something. He's no longer with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/you-read-what-disraeli-had-to-say-i-don-t-remember-what-he-said-he/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [I think the Republican Party has indicated to everyone who wants to look at us that, you know, we're in the mainstream. We understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-think-the-republican-party-has-indicated-to-everyone-who-wants-to/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [If there is one clear lesson of our century, it is this: where aggression is tolerated, it multiplies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-there-is-one-clear-lesson-of-our-century-it-is-this-where/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [I'm not a Gingrich fan. He's just difficult to work with. It's either Newt's way or the highway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-m-not-a-gingrich-fan-he-s-just-difficult-to-work-with-it-s-either/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

[Explore all 82 Bob Dole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

## More Boys quotes

> [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/)

[John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/)

> [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/)

[Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/)

> [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/)

[MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/)

[Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

> [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/)

[Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/)

> [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/)

[Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/)

> [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/)

[Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/)

> [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/)

[Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/)

> [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/)

[Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/)

> [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/)

[Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/)

> [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/)

[Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/)

[Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it's a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys and that inspires Americans in every generation to lay down their lives for people they will never meet, for ideals that make life itself worth living.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bob Dole"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial-to-war-rather-it-s-a-tribute/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Boys"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial-to-war-rather-it-s-a-tribute/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/bob-dole-8280_boys_what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial_927737.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it's a tribute to the physical and moral courage…” — Bob Dole",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Bob Dole",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What we dedicate today is not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial-to-war-rather-it-s-a-tribute/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/what-we-dedicate-today-is-not-a-memorial-to-war-rather-it-s-a-tribute/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
