History Quote by Jon Ronson
““(What Jim had seen tallied with studies conducted after the Second World War by the military historian General S.L.A. Marshall. He interviewed thousands of American infantrymen and concluded that only 15-20 per cent of them had actually shot to kill. The rest had fired high or not fired at all, busying themselves however else they could. And 98 per cent of the soldiers who did shoot to kill were later found to have been deeply traumatized by their actions. The other 2 per cent were diagnosed as ‘aggressive psychopathic personalities’, who basically didn’t mind killing people under any circumstances, at home or abroad. The conclusion—in the words of Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman of the Killology Research Group—was: ‘there is something about continuous, inescapable combat which will drive 98 per cent of all men insane, and the other 2 per cent were crazy when they got there’.)””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson, 2004
Combat exposure often leads to severe psychological trauma, with most soldiers unable to kill and a small fraction becoming desensitized or psychopathic.
In simple terms: War causes deep mental wounds; few become killers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address combat trauma early.
Themes
war
psychology
trauma
violence
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
analytical
informative
When to use this quote
- veteran counseling
- military training
- mental health policy
- public awareness
Key Concepts
combat stress
moral injury
psychopathology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does military training influence moral injury?
- What support helps traumatized veterans?
A Different Perspective
Not all combatants react the same; resilience varies.
