--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We stroll on. Late in the evening we run…" description: "\"“We stroll on. Late in the evening we run into Willy and set off together for the barracks. En route Willy suddenly springs to one side and I crouch do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/erich-maria-remarque-568_quote_we-stroll-on-late-in-the-evening-we-run_1498034.jpg" --- # We stroll on. Late in the evening we run into Willy and… ![“We stroll on. Late in the evening we run into Willy and set off together for the barracks. En route Willy suddenly springs to one side and I crouch down likewise. The unmistakable howl of a shell coming—then we look round mystified and laugh. It was merely the screech of an electric tram.” quote by Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/erich-maria-remarque-568_quote_we-stroll-on-late-in-the-evening-we-run_1498034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/erich-maria-remarque-568_quote_we-stroll-on-late-in-the-evening-we-run_1498034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/erich-maria-remarque-568_quote_we-stroll-on-late-in-the-evening-we-run_1498034.jpg) > ““We stroll on. Late in the evening we run into Willy and set off together for the barracks. En route Willy suddenly springs to one side and I crouch down likewise. The unmistakable howl of a shell coming—then we look round mystified and laugh. It was merely the screech of an electric tram.”” [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In wartime, soldiers find brief, absurd moments of humor that mask the surrounding horror. **In simple terms:** War can produce strange, fleeting jokes. Key Takeaway Notice humor even in dark times. Themes war absurdity humanity camaraderie Mood bittersweet reflective Type literary historical When to use this quote - trenches - night patrols - unexpected noises - soldier bonding Key Concepts existential dread psychological coping Questions to Reflect On - How do you react to sudden levity in stressful settings? - What does laughter reveal about coping? A Different Perspective Humor may trivialize serious trauma if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Tram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tram/) ## Related quotes > [“Conversation was tedious; she wanted something big, and she believed that it would have come to her on the windswept platform of an electric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/conversation-was-tedious-she-wanted-something-big-and-she-believed/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [I used to go from place to place by tram. A shilling would take you all around London and the suburbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-used-to-go-from-place-to-place-by-tram-a-shilling-would-take-you/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [There is always something sad about the trams, may be because they are like our lives: They appear from nothingness and disappear in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-always-something-sad-about-the-trams-may-be-because-they-are/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Marriage isn't a tram. It doesn't have to get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/marriage-isn-t-a-tram-it-doesn-t-have-to-get-anywhere/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“The tram’s fate is to travel only on its track. But for man, everywhere is a track; everywhere is his fate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-tram-s-fate-is-to-travel-only-on-its-track-but-for-man-everywhere/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“(Regarding the Roosevelt Tram along Queensboro Bridge): "They had it renovated by the French. French cars. French cables. Cables that surrender! Would you ride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-monk/regarding-the-roosevelt-tram-along-queensboro-bridge-they-had-it/) [Camilla Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-monk/) > [The trians broke down on the way to hogwarts...Fuck it, Lets get the tram...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kay/the-trians-broke-down-on-the-way-to-hogwarts-fuck-it-lets-get-the-tram/) Thomas Kay > [And always Melbourne, Melbourne, Melbourne, over and over the same photo in glaring greens and reds, of a tram, huffy, blunderous, manoeuvring itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/and-always-melbourne-melbourne-melbourne-over-and-over-the-same-photo/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [“Tram is the literary and magical version of the train!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/tram-is-the-literary-and-magical-version-of-the-train/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I enjoyed harassing tram conductors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeetendra/i-enjoyed-harassing-tram-conductors/) [Jeetendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeetendra/) > [“It was in December. I stood in the back of the tram, all the way in the back. It drove through the country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nescio/it-was-in-december-i-stood-in-the-back-of-the-tram-all-the-way-in-the/) [Nescio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nescio/) > [“He gives me all his numbers and writes mine down on a tram ticket. I am listening hard, but he doesn't say "I'll call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-jordan/he-gives-me-all-his-numbers-and-writes-mine-down-on-a-tram-ticket-i/) [Toni Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-jordan/) > [“The tram can run over you only if you are on the tram way! The darkness can run over you only if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-tram-can-run-over-you-only-if-you-are-on-the-tram-way-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Have just been run over by tram-car at Patriarch's Ponds funeral Friday three pm come. Berlioz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulgakov/have-just-been-run-over-by-tram-car-at-patriarch-s-ponds-funeral/) Bulgakov > [“When the tram has arrived at the stop, you have to be there! Calculate where a good opportunity will stop and be there!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-tram-has-arrived-at-the-stop-you-have-to-be-there-calculate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Erich Maria Remarque > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/the-idea-of-authority-which-they-represented-was-associated-in-our/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It was a long time since I had been in a theatre. And I would not have come now had Pat not wanted it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-was-a-long-time-since-i-had-been-in-a-theatre-and-i-would-not-have/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Besides,” continued Gottfried, “you’re coming now to the time when the difference between a bourgeois and a cavalier begins to show. A bourgeois always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/besides-continued-gottfried-you-re-coming-now-to-the-time-when-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“They are wearing new uniforms and greatcoats; their boots are water-tight and fit well; their rifles are good and their pouches full of ammunition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/they-are-wearing-new-uniforms-and-greatcoats-their-boots-are-water/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Shortly after the war Valentin had come into a little money, and had been drinking it ever since. He considered it his duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/shortly-after-the-war-valentin-had-come-into-a-little-money-and-had/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“A man has to have something he can put faith in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/a-man-has-to-have-something-he-can-put-faith-in/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It is very queer that the unhappiness of the world is so often brought on by small men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-is-very-queer-that-the-unhappiness-of-the-world-is-so-often/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [I, too, am going to go away soon,' she says, 'I am weary and weary of my weariness. Everything is beginning to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-too-am-going-to-go-away-soon-she-says-i-am-weary-and-weary-of-my/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“One is never too young. Only always too old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/one-is-never-too-young-only-always-too-old/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [You take it from me, we are losing the war because we can salute too well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/you-take-it-from-me-we-are-losing-the-war-because-we-can-salute-too/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It keeps them going, staves off the evil day when they will be alone. And to be alone, really alone, without illusion, that way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-keeps-them-going-staves-off-the-evil-day-when-they-will-be-alone/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Suddenly he knew all the things he should have said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/suddenly-he-knew-all-the-things-he-should-have-said/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“To hell with it. What was the use trying to make safe and sure our little life? Sooner or later the great wave must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/to-hell-with-it-what-was-the-use-trying-to-make-safe-and-sure-our/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“I glance at my boots. They are big and clumsy, the breeches are tucked into them, and standing up one looks well-built and powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-glance-at-my-boots-they-are-big-and-clumsy-the-breeches-are-tucked/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) [Explore all 360 Erich Maria Remarque quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) ## More Tram quotes > [“When the tram has arrived at the stop, you have to be there! Calculate where a good opportunity will stop and be there!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-tram-has-arrived-at-the-stop-you-have-to-be-there-calculate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Have just been run over by tram-car at Patriarch's Ponds funeral Friday three pm come. Berlioz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulgakov/have-just-been-run-over-by-tram-car-at-patriarch-s-ponds-funeral/) Bulgakov > [“The tram can run over you only if you are on the tram way! The darkness can run over you only if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-tram-can-run-over-you-only-if-you-are-on-the-tram-way-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“He gives me all his numbers and writes mine down on a tram ticket. I am listening hard, but he doesn't say "I'll call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-jordan/he-gives-me-all-his-numbers-and-writes-mine-down-on-a-tram-ticket-i/) [Toni Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-jordan/) > [“It was in December. I stood in the back of the tram, all the way in the back. It drove through the country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nescio/it-was-in-december-i-stood-in-the-back-of-the-tram-all-the-way-in-the/) [Nescio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nescio/) > [I enjoyed harassing tram conductors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeetendra/i-enjoyed-harassing-tram-conductors/) [Jeetendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeetendra/) > [“Tram is the literary and magical version of the train!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/tram-is-the-literary-and-magical-version-of-the-train/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [And always Melbourne, Melbourne, Melbourne, over and over the same photo in glaring greens and reds, of a tram, huffy, blunderous, manoeuvring itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/and-always-melbourne-melbourne-melbourne-over-and-over-the-same-photo/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [The trians broke down on the way to hogwarts...Fuck it, Lets get the tram...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kay/the-trians-broke-down-on-the-way-to-hogwarts-fuck-it-lets-get-the-tram/) Thomas Kay > [“(Regarding the Roosevelt Tram along Queensboro Bridge): "They had it renovated by the French. French cars. French cables. Cables that surrender! Would you ride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-monk/regarding-the-roosevelt-tram-along-queensboro-bridge-they-had-it/) [Camilla Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-monk/) > [“The tram’s fate is to travel only on its track. But for man, everywhere is a track; everywhere is his fate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-tram-s-fate-is-to-travel-only-on-its-track-but-for-man-everywhere/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Marriage isn't a tram. It doesn't have to get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/marriage-isn-t-a-tram-it-doesn-t-have-to-get-anywhere/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [There is always something sad about the trams, may be because they are like our lives: They appear from nothingness and disappear in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-always-something-sad-about-the-trams-may-be-because-they-are/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I used to go from place to place by tram. A shilling would take you all around London and the suburbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-used-to-go-from-place-to-place-by-tram-a-shilling-would-take-you/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [“Jazz is the only lever used by all the riffraff of Tram 83 to switch social class as one would subway cars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiston-mwanza-mujila/jazz-is-the-only-lever-used-by-all-the-riffraff-of-tram-83-to-switch/) Fiston Mwanza Mujila [Browse all 21 Tram quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tram/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We stroll on. Late in the evening we run into Willy and set off together for the barracks. En route Willy suddenly springs to one side and I crouch down likewise. The unmistakable howl of a shell coming—then we look round mystified and laugh. 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