Quote by Erich Maria Remarque
““I gaze like one enchanted. Only when the woman stands up and moves noiselessly to the table do I step back hastily. My heart is beating fast. In the wild light of the rockets and among the shattered ruins of front-line villages, I had almost forgotten such things existed—such street-long, walked-in peace of carpets and warmth and women. I should like to open the door and go in and curl myself up on the settle; I should like to stretch out my hands to the warmth there and let it flood over me; I should like to talk and to thaw out there the hardness, the violence, all the past; to leave it behind me, peel it off like a dirty shirt.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: All Quiet on the Western Front, 1929
A soldier longs for the simple comforts of peace amid war’s devastation, yearning for warmth and humanity.
In simple terms: War makes one crave normal life and love.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of peace even in hardship.
Themes
war
longing
humanity
comfort
memory
Mood
melancholy
hopeful
Type
reflective
emotional
When to use this quote
- battlefields
- home
- family gatherings
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
nostalgia
psychological yearning
contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- What small comforts can you create in a stressful environment?
- How does remembering peace affect resilience?
A Different Perspective
The desire may be idealized, overlooking practical survival needs.
