--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In their eyes as they pass is not hatred…" description: "\"In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement, not despair, not the tonic of their victory - there is just the simple expression of being he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg" --- # In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement… ![“In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement, not despair, not the tonic of their victory - there is just the simple expression of being here as though they had been here doing this forever, and nothing else.” quote by Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg) > “In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement, not despair, not the tonic of their victory - there is just the simple expression of being here as though they had been here doing this forever, and nothing else.” [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes a profound, timeless presence of people, free from strong emotions, simply existing in a moment that feels eternal. **In simple terms:** People can be fully present without intense feelings. Key Takeaway Embrace calm, present awareness. Themes presence timelessness humanity Mood reflective tranquil Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - war zones - everyday life - rituals - long‑term projects Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can we recognize subtle feelings in quiet moments? - What practices help sustain such presence? A Different Perspective It may overlook the depth of hidden emotions behind a calm façade. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Excitement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excitement/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [Your empty eyes seem to pass me by and leave me dancing with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/your-empty-eyes-seem-to-pass-me-by-and-leave-me-dancing-with-myself/) [Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/) > [“We pass hatred and prejudice on to our children, as though they were heirlooms of humanity. We cling to traditions that keep us bound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-browning/we-pass-hatred-and-prejudice-on-to-our-children-as-though-they-were/) [L.M. Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-browning/) > [“There is no defeat or Victory there are just we.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-hashim/there-is-no-defeat-or-victory-there-are-just-we/) Muhammad Hashim > [“A victory is a victory only if it is achieved peacefully, without any use of violence! If you have defeated your enemy not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-victory-is-a-victory-only-if-it-is-achieved-peacefully-without-any/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Victory is not just a stage its a feeling of overcomeness and happiness and satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-c/victory-is-not-just-a-stage-its-a-feeling-of-overcomeness-and/) [Gabrielle C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-c/) > [It is marvellous for us all. I have said that after all I have suffered, every time I walk into a ground to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo/it-is-marvellous-for-us-all-i-have-said-that-after-all-i-have/) [Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo/) > [Dont take rest after ur first VICTORY. Because if u fail in second , More lips are waiting to say , that ur first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shy-boy/dont-take-rest-after-ur-first-victory-because-if-u-fail-in-second/) Shy Boy > [Dont take rest after ur first victory... Coz if u fail in 2nd,more lips are waiting to say that ur first victory was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apj-abdul-kalam/dont-take-rest-after-ur-first-victory-coz-if-u-fail-in-2nd-more-lips/) APJ Abdul Kalam > [“But victory is not everything. It’s just as crucial to consider what has been won.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-stachniak/but-victory-is-not-everything-it-s-just-as-crucial-to-consider-what/) [Eva Stachniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-stachniak/) > [“Life is difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/life-is-difficult/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [Any trend that generates a lot of excitement encounters scepticism due to the bad experiences - internet and housing crashes - of the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathie-wood/any-trend-that-generates-a-lot-of-excitement-encounters-scepticism/) [Cathie Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathie-wood/) > [I've always bought CDs and even when I was young and at primary school I had a massive collection of CDs. I just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-ve-always-bought-cds-and-even-when-i-was-young-and-at-primary/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) ## More by Ernie Pyle > [At last we are in it up to our necks, and everything is changed, even your outlook on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/at-last-we-are-in-it-up-to-our-necks-and-everything-is-changed-even/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [For a lifetime I had bathed with becoming regularity, and thought the world would come to an end unless I changed my socks every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/for-a-lifetime-i-had-bathed-with-becoming-regularity-and-thought-the/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [War makes strange giant creatures out of us little routine men who inhabit the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/war-makes-strange-giant-creatures-out-of-us-little-routine-men-who/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [Marines have a cynical approach to war. They believe in three things; liberty, payday and that when two Marines are together in a fight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/marines-have-a-cynical-approach-to-war-they-believe-in-three-things/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [Say what you will, nothing can make a complete soldier except battle experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/say-what-you-will-nothing-can-make-a-complete-soldier-except-battle/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [I've really been sick with this cold, but I think I might have kept the columns going anyhow except I was just so low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/i-ve-really-been-sick-with-this-cold-but-i-think-i-might-have-kept/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [There is no sense in the struggle, but there is no choice but to struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/there-is-no-sense-in-the-struggle-but-there-is-no-choice-but-to/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [About every two minutes a new wave of planes would be over. The motors seemed to grind rather than roar, and to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/about-every-two-minutes-a-new-wave-of-planes-would-be-over-the-motors/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [For me war has become a flat, black depression without highlights, a revulsion of the mind and an exhaustion of the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/for-me-war-has-become-a-flat-black-depression-without-highlights-a/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [But to the fighting soldier that phase of the war is behind. It was left behind after his first battle. His blood is up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/but-to-the-fighting-soldier-that-phase-of-the-war-is-behind-it-was/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [“In Europe we felt that our enemies, horrible and deadly as they were, were still people. ... But out here I soon gathered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/in-europe-we-felt-that-our-enemies-horrible-and-deadly-as-they-were/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [I've been immersed in it too long. My spirit is wobbly and my mind is confused. The hurt has become too great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/i-ve-been-immersed-in-it-too-long-my-spirit-is-wobbly-and-my-mind-is/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [ \[I\]nstead of the usual "Why can't we make movies more like real life?" I think a more pertinent question is "Why can't real life… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/i-nstead-of-the-usual-why-can-t-we-make-movies-more-like-real-life-i/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/i-love-the-infantry-because-they-are-the-underdogs-they-are-the-mud/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [Thoughts are wonderful things, that they can bring two people, so far apart, into harmony and understanding for even a little while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/thoughts-are-wonderful-things-that-they-can-bring-two-people-so-far/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) [Explore all 37 Ernie Pyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement, not despair, not the tonic of their victory - there is just the simple expression of being here as though they had been here doing this forever, and nothing else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernie Pyle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred-not-excitement-not-despair/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred-not-excitement-not-despair/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/ernie-pyle-17548_despair_in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred_1376467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In their eyes as they pass is not hatred, not excitement, not despair, not the tonic of their victory…” — Ernie Pyle", "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": "Ernie Pyle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In their eyes as they pass...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred-not-excitement-not-despair/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/in-their-eyes-as-they-pass-is-not-hatred-not-excitement-not-despair/#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 } } ] } ```