--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world has turned over many times…" description: "\"The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point?but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular balla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png" --- # The world has turned over many times since I took the oath… ![“The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point?but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” quote by Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png) > “The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point?but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even as time passes, the memory of soldiers' sacrifices endures, though they may fade from public view. **In simple terms:** Soldiers' memory fades but never dies. Key Takeaway Honor and remember past service. Themes honor memory legacy Mood respectful nostalgic Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - commemoration ceremonies - military reunions - educational curricula Key Concepts military tradition historical reflection Questions to Reflect On - How can societies keep veterans' stories alive? - What rituals help preserve military heritage? A Different Perspective Public attention wanes; stories can be forgotten. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballads/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Fade away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fade-away/) [Fades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fades/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Oath Plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-plain-5169623/) [Old soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-soldiers/) [Proudly Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proudly-old-5169621/) [Refrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refrain/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Refrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-refrain-5169622/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [West point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-point/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/old-soldiers-never-die-they-just-fade-away/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-soldier-above-all-other-people-prays-for-peace-for-he-must-suffer/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Old soldiers never die, they just lose their grip on reality after traumatic brain injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/old-soldiers-never-die-they-just-lose-their-grip-on-reality-after/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. You are as young as your faith, as old as your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/years-may-wrinkle-the-skin-but-to-give-up-interest-wrinkles-the-soul/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [It's better to fade away like an old soldier than to burn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-s-better-to-fade-away-like-an-old-soldier-than-to-burn-out/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“If you have to fight old enemies, you should do it with your own old soldiers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-to-fight-old-enemies-you-should-do-it-with-your-own-old/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So Anna did not blame the women of her time for what they had created; it was different only in kind from what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-bahr/so-anna-did-not-blame-the-women-of-her-time-for-what-they-had-created/) [Howard Bahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-bahr/) > [War in the end is always about betrayal, betrayal of the young by the old, of soldiers by politicians, and of idealists by cynics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/war-in-the-end-is-always-about-betrayal-betrayal-of-the-young-by-the/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Is not old wine wholesomest, old pippins toothsomest, old wood burn brightest, old linen wash whitest? Old soldiers, sweethearts, are surest, and old lovers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-webster/is-not-old-wine-wholesomest-old-pippins-toothsomest-old-wood-burn/) [John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-webster/) > [That's a nice song,' said young Sam, and Vimes remembered that he was hearing it for the first time. It's an old soldiers' song,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/that-s-a-nice-song-said-young-sam-and-vimes-remembered-that-he-was/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [As an old soldier, I admit the cowardice: it's as universal as seasickness, and matters just as little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-an-old-soldier-i-admit-the-cowardice-it-s-as-universal-as/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-as-young-as-your-faith-as-old-as-your-doubt-as-young-as-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who have escaped from poverty are like old soldiers. In later years they recount the little, amusing incidents that happened infrequently, and conveniently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/people-who-have-escaped-from-poverty-are-like-old-soldiers-in-later/) [Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/) > [Keep unscathed the good name; keep out of peril the honor without which even your battered old soldier who is hobbling into his grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/keep-unscathed-the-good-name-keep-out-of-peril-the-honor-without/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zell-miller/it-is-the-soldier-not-the-poet-who-has-given-us-freedom-of-speech/) [Zell Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zell-miller/) ## More by Douglas MacArthur > [Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/men-since-the-beginning-of-time-have-sought-peace-military-alliances/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I stand on this rostrum with a sense of deep humility and great pride - humility in the weight of those great American architects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-stand-on-this-rostrum-with-a-sense-of-deep-humility-and-great-pride/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/our-country-is-now-geared-to-an-arms-economy-bred-in-an-artificially/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [If I had one more division like this First Marine Division I could win this war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/if-i-had-one-more-division-like-this-first-marine-division-i-could/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [However horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/however-horrible-the-incidents-of-war-may-be-the-soldier-who-is/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [While Asia is commonly referred to as the Gateway to Europe, it is no less true that Europe is the Gateway to Asia, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/while-asia-is-commonly-referred-to-as-the-gateway-to-europe-it-is-no/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I believe that the entire effort of modern society should be concentrated on the endeavor to outlaw war as a method of the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-believe-that-the-entire-effort-of-modern-society-should-be/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, as it is waged now, with the enormous losses on both sides, both sides will lose. It is a form of mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-as-it-is-waged-now-with-the-enormous-losses-on-both-sides-both/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-am-concerned-for-the-security-of-our-great-nation-not-so-much/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I've looked that old scoundrel death in the eye many times but this time I think he has me on the ropes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-ve-looked-that-old-scoundrel-death-in-the-eye-many-times-but-this/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/age-wrinkles-the-body-quitting-wrinkles-the-soul/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [For those to whom much is given, much is required. It is not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/for-those-to-whom-much-is-given-much-is-required-it-is-not-whether/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-you-win-or-lose-live-or-die-and-the-difference-is-just-an/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Beware not the enemy from 'without' but the enemy from 'within'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/beware-not-the-enemy-from-without-but-the-enemy-from-within/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) [Explore all 171 Douglas MacArthur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## More Ballads quotes > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I think that ballads are always something where I can really become one with the audiance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namie-amuro/i-think-that-ballads-are-always-something-where-i-can-really-become/) [Namie Amuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namie-amuro/) > [I realized that what I was looking for was doing collaborations with other people - people who can play a ballad, rock, jazz. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-realized-that-what-i-was-looking-for-was-doing-collaborations-with/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Maybe you could put it out there that I don't have a built-in dislike of ballads. That was kind of the reputation I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/maybe-you-could-put-it-out-there-that-i-don-t-have-a-built-in-dislike/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [On 'Idol,' I understood that everyone wanted to hear my vocals, so I stuck with the ballads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sanchez/on-idol-i-understood-that-everyone-wanted-to-hear-my-vocals-so-i/) [Jessica Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sanchez/) > [Some of my other heroes around that time were, oddly enough, Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole and people like that - I was always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bell/some-of-my-other-heroes-around-that-time-were-oddly-enough-frank/) [William Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bell/) > [People were saying that Southern folk song was dead, that the land that had produced American jazz, the blues, the spirituals, the mountain ballads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/people-were-saying-that-southern-folk-song-was-dead-that-the-land/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [I got a chance to get an actual label. I performed this slow song, this ballad I have. I just remember going to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-got-a-chance-to-get-an-actual-label-i-performed-this-slow-song-this/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [My music is a reflection of what I really love to listen to, pop, dance, mid tempo dance and ballads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/my-music-is-a-reflection-of-what-i-really-love-to-listen-to-pop-dance/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [My love was Bob Dylan, but as I got older I realized a good ballad was a good ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/my-love-was-bob-dylan-but-as-i-got-older-i-realized-a-good-ballad-was/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [People who listen to my records expect the ballads from me. The rock 'n roll is on there because it's another mode of expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/people-who-listen-to-my-records-expect-the-ballads-from-me-the-rock-n/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [“...singing ballads whose words had never known paper but lived only on the rasping edge of their own voices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/singing-ballads-whose-words-had-never-known-paper-but-lived-only-on/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [If we hooked up, he could write me ballads and stuff. You gotta admit, nothing's sexier than a guy who writes music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/if-we-hooked-up-he-could-write-me-ballads-and-stuff-you-gotta-admit/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I would start off with a lively rag, then would come a ballad, followed by a comedy song and a novelty number, and finally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-tucker/i-would-start-off-with-a-lively-rag-then-would-come-a-ballad-followed/) [Sophie Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-tucker/) > [It was very romantic. It's all in the song, The Ballad of John and Yoko. If you want to know how it happened, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-was-very-romantic-it-s-all-in-the-song-the-ballad-of-john-and-yoko/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Browse all 192 Ballads quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballads/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point?but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas MacArthur" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-since-i-took-the-oath-on-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ballads" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-since-i-took-the-oath-on-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/douglas-macarthur-2344_ballads_the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-sin_644844.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point?but I still remember…” — Douglas MacArthur", "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": "Douglas MacArthur", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The world has turned over many...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-since-i-took-the-oath-on-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-world-has-turned-over-many-times-since-i-took-the-oath-on-the/#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 } } ] } ```