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Peace Quote by John Connolly

“The hatred for ex-soldiers on the part of those who had not fought was something I could not understand. They wanted us to disappear. There were no more parades now, no more kisses on the cheek. Soldiers were no more than beggars, and nobody likes a beggar. Perhaps we made them feel guilty by our…” quote by John Connolly
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““The hatred for ex-soldiers on the part of those who had not fought was something I could not understand. They wanted us to disappear. There were no more parades now, no more kisses on the cheek. Soldiers were no more than beggars, and nobody likes a beggar. Perhaps we made them feel guilty by our presence. They might have preferred it had we all died in the mud and been buried far from England in places whose names we had not even learned to pronounce properly before we perished.””

John Connolly

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Great War and Modern Memory, 1995

The speaker laments how civilians who never fought view veterans with disdain, seeing them as burdens rather than heroes.

In simple terms: Veterans feel rejected by those who never fought.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and honor veterans’ sacrifices.

Themes

war society misunderstanding honor

Mood

somber reflective

Type

social commentary historical reflection

When to use this quote

  • public commemorations
  • veteran support programs
  • media portrayals
  • education curricula

Key Concepts

civilian-veteran relations social stigma memory guilt

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies better integrate veterans?
  • What narratives reinforce veteran marginalization?
A Different Perspective

Civilian perspectives may shift over time, but systemic neglect persists.

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