Care Quote by Garrett Hedlund
“Yeah, I know a lot of soldiers. I know soldiers who don't like to hear thank you for your service. And I know soldiers that do like to be told thank you for your service. The ones who don't like to be told are the ones who've been through serious sh*t. They don't care about feedback. They did their job. They did what they have to do. Sometimes the people that thank them are exactly the ones they don't want to be thanked by.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Voice of the Soldier, 2023
People who have endured intense hardship often reject praise, seeing it as irrelevant to their duty, while others appreciate acknowledgment.
In simple terms: Hardship can make gratitude feel meaningless; appreciation varies.
Key Takeaway
Respect individual experiences when offering thanks.
Themes
military culture
gratitude
psychology
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
observational
empathetic
When to use this quote
- military debriefings
- team meetings
- public ceremonies
- personal conversations
Key Concepts
trauma
resilience
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you gauge when gratitude is appropriate?
- What alternatives to verbal thanks can honor service?
A Different Perspective
Not all veterans want public praise; some may feel it trivializes their sacrifice.
