Battlefields Quote by George Friedman
“When you're young and going to war, it's a genuinely exciting moment. You are going to risk yourself. On the battlefield, you are suddenly free. You realize: I'm here, I'm in it. Exaltation. Suddenly you're hit by another extraordinary feeling: my God, I can be killed. And: will I embarrass myself? It's like you're in a kaleidoscope and all of these extraordinary feelings are zipping by.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Next 100 Years, George Friedman, 2009
Youthful war excitement blends thrill of risk with existential awareness, producing a kaleidoscopic mix of bravery and fear.
In simple terms: Young soldiers feel both exhilaration and terror in battle.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the intensity but stay grounded.
Themes
war
youth
excitement
fear
existence
Mood
intense
thoughtful
Type
war
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military service
- first combat experience
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
risk
psychology
adrenaline
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives the thrill of danger?
- How can one balance courage and caution?
A Different Perspective
The romanticism may overlook lasting trauma.
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![“War is an extraordinary condition to be in - to be, for example, in the combat information center of a warship [and behaving] as though you were merely processing credit card applications. [Instead,] the information you're processing is that an incoming missile is 15 kilometers away, now 10…” quote by George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea7/george-friedman-7436_ancient_war-is-an-extraordinary-condition-to-be_312426.jpg)
