English major Quote by Bob Shacochis
““He wanted to know if the master sergeant had read Auden, the twentieth century's most influential Christian poet, "English majors in the army, not many of them, not many of us, am I right, Top." Burnette, nonplussed, wondered if he should mention Eliot or the eccentric religious impulses of JD Salinger, but instead mumbled the only line he could recall from Auden's work, "We must love one another or die." Bingo, said the colonel. Son of a bitch had the wrong conjunction.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Colonel’s Question”, 2015
A soldier’s casual reference to poetry reveals deeper humanity, but misquoting leads to comic misunderstanding.
In simple terms: Poetry shows humanity; misquoting causes humor.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate literature, but quote accurately.
Themes
literature
humanity
miscommunication
military
humor
Mood
ironic
lighthearted
Type
narrative
humorous
When to use this quote
- military life
- education
- casual conversation
- media
- social media
Key Concepts
poetry
cultural literacy
social interaction
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the misquote reveal?
- How can we respect literary references?
A Different Perspective
Misquoting can damage credibility.
