--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But in modern war you will die like a dog…" description: "\"But in modern war you will die like a dog for no good reason.\" — Ernest Hemingway" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/ernest-hemingway-83_modern-war_but-in-modern-war-you-will-die-like-a-do_81086.jpg" --- # But in modern war you will die like a dog for no good… ![“But in modern war you will die like a dog for no good reason.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/ernest-hemingway-83_modern-war_but-in-modern-war-you-will-die-like-a-do_81086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/ernest-hemingway-83_modern-war_but-in-modern-war-you-will-die-like-a-do_81086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/ernest-hemingway-83_modern-war_but-in-modern-war-you-will-die-like-a-do_81086.jpg) > “But in modern war you will die like a dog for no good reason.” [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War often forces individuals into senseless sacrifice, highlighting the absurdity and cruelty of conflict. **In simple terms:** War's futility Key Takeaway War can be senseless Themes war absurdity sacrifice humanity mortality Mood somber reflective Type aphorism statement When to use this quote - soldier in combat - civilian in war zone - military strategist Key Concepts conflict meaninglessness human cost Practical Applications - anti-war advocacy - military ethics training Questions to Reflect On - What makes a war justified? - How does society value human life in wartime? A Different Perspective Some argue that war, while tragic, can serve necessary political or defensive purposes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Modern war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-war/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In modern war... you will die like a dog for no good reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/in-modern-war-you-will-die-like-a-dog-for-no-good-reason/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You will die like a dog for no good reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-will-die-like-a-dog-for-no-good-reason/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You are going to die like a dog for no good reason”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-are-going-to-die-like-a-dog-for-no-good-reason/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“He’s afraid," Graber said. "Yes, naturally. But he’s a good dog." "And a man-eater." "We’re all that." "Why?" "We are. And we think, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/he-s-afraid-graber-said-yes-naturally-but-he-s-a-good-dog-and-a-man/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [May I die like a dog rather than hasten the ripening of a sentence by a single second!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/may-i-die-like-a-dog-rather-than-hasten-the-ripening-of-a-sentence-by/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“Don't say another word. If you think you're the only person for whom life is painful, you're wrong. And if you don't mind letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/don-t-say-another-word-if-you-think-you-re-the-only-person-for-whom/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/they-wrote-in-the-old-days-that-it-is-sweet-and-fitting-to-die-for/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Dr. Dog is good summer music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-potter/dr-dog-is-good-summer-music/) [Grace Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-potter/) > [Everybody should have a shelter dog. It's good for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shaffer/everybody-should-have-a-shelter-dog-it-s-good-for-the-soul/) [Paul Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-shaffer/) > [A dog is a good friend of a man and perhaps better than many of his best friends.~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-dog-is-a-good-friend-of-a-man-and-perhaps-better-than-many-of-his/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [In order to be happy you need a good dog, a good woman, and ready money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-order-to-be-happy-you-need-a-good-dog-a-good-woman-and-ready-money/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“A dog's good for filling a grief-dug hole." "In the Shape of Shep”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-granfors/a-dog-s-good-for-filling-a-grief-dug-hole-in-the-shape-of-shep/) [Eileen Granfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-granfors/) > [ “Not only was \[her dog\] a good companion, he was also like a permission slip to be more present in the world.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-lochen/not-only-was-her-dog-a-good-companion-he-was-also-like-a-permission/) [Andrea Lochen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-lochen/) > [Everybody should have a shelter dog. Its good for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shaffer/everybody-should-have-a-shelter-dog-its-good-for-the-soul/) [Paul Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-shaffer/) > [I didn't grow up with pets, but I live alone and figured a dog might be good for me. His name is Drexl, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-thomason/i-didn-t-grow-up-with-pets-but-i-live-alone-and-figured-a-dog-might/) [Marsha Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-thomason/) ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Explore all 1,464 Ernest Hemingway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More Modern war quotes > [You must all be aware that modern war is not a mere matter of military operations. It involves the whole strength and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/you-must-all-be-aware-that-modern-war-is-not-a-mere-matter-of/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [“Modern war is distinguished by the fact that all the participants are ostensibly unwilling. We are swept towards one another like colonies of heavily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/modern-war-is-distinguished-by-the-fact-that-all-the-participants-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Anarchists' uncompromising rejection of the State, the subject of Marxian sneers for its "absolutist" and "Utopian" character, makes much better sense in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-macdonald/the-anarchists-uncompromising-rejection-of-the-state-the-subject-of/) [Dwight Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-macdonald/) > [I have every confidence in the ultimate success of our joint cause; but success in modern war requires something more than courage and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-have-every-confidence-in-the-ultimate-success-of-our-joint-cause/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [A nation's ability to fight a modern war is as good as its technological ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-whittle/a-nation-s-ability-to-fight-a-modern-war-is-as-good-as-its/) Frank Whittle > [How would you describe the difference between modern war and modern industry-between say, bombing and strip mining, or between chemical warfare and chemical manufacturing?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/how-would-you-describe-the-difference-between-modern-war-and-modern/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [If you want to go anywhere in modern war, in the air, on the sea, on the land, you must have command of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/if-you-want-to-go-anywhere-in-modern-war-in-the-air-on-the-sea-on-the/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [Their notion of training was to march the men up and down in parades and reviews: these were nice to look at and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-figes/their-notion-of-training-was-to-march-the-men-up-and-down-in-parades/) [Orlando Figes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-figes/) > [“The effect of modern war is to eliminate retrogressive types, while sparing the technocracy and increasing its hold upon public affairs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-effect-of-modern-war-is-to-eliminate-retrogressive-types-while/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“How would you describe the difference between modern war and modern industry—between, say, bombing and strip mining, or between chemical warfare and chemical manufacturing?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/how-would-you-describe-the-difference-between-modern-war-and-modern-2/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Only the man who disciplines himself strictly can stand for long the terrific pace of modern war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/only-the-man-who-disciplines-himself-strictly-can-stand-for-long-the/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [The modern wars are also omnipresent in our electronic media - to be cynical about it, we now have 24 hours of non-stop bloodshed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-abrams/the-modern-wars-are-also-omnipresent-in-our-electronic-media-to-be/) [Dave Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-abrams/) > [Even modern wars are fought like revenge tales from some petty grievance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/even-modern-wars-are-fought-like-revenge-tales-from-some-petty/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [It's hard to believe that these self-centered people have nuclear weapons that they can fire at any moment. 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