--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The occupying Russians, when they…" description: "\"“The occupying Russians, when they discovered that we were Americans, embraced us and congratulated us on the complete desolation our planes had wrough..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kurt-vonnegut-41_history_the-occupying-russians-when-they-discove_1469129.jpg" --- # The occupying Russians, when they discovered that we were… ![“The occupying Russians, when they discovered that we were Americans, embraced us and congratulated us on the complete desolation our planes had wrought. We accepted their congratulations with good grace and proper modesty, but I felt then as I feel now, that I would have given my life to save…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kurt-vonnegut-41_history_the-occupying-russians-when-they-discove_1469129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kurt-vonnegut-41_history_the-occupying-russians-when-they-discove_1469129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kurt-vonnegut-41_history_the-occupying-russians-when-they-discove_1469129.jpg) > ““The occupying Russians, when they discovered that we were Americans, embraced us and congratulated us on the complete desolation our planes had wrought. We accepted their congratulations with good grace and proper modesty, but I felt then as I feel now, that I would have given my life to save Dresden for the World's generations to come. That is how everyone should feel about every city on Earth.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker urges universal empathy for all cities, urging sacrifice for future generations, reflecting on shared humanity amid conflict. **In simple terms:** Feel empathy for every city. Key Takeaway Protect cultural heritage for future. Themes empathy heritage future generations Mood reflective somber Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - Urban planning - education - peace advocacy - humanitarian work Key Concepts Moral responsibility historical memory Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor past while building future? - What responsibilities do we hold to distant peoples? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex geopolitical realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“We accepted their congratulations with good grace and proper modesty, but I felt then as I feel now, that I would have given my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/we-accepted-their-congratulations-with-good-grace-and-proper-modesty/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [What I found fascinating for me was, I've never gotten so much approval and accolades and warmth and congratulations as when I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/what-i-found-fascinating-for-me-was-i-ve-never-gotten-so-much/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We all deserve to be congratulated, but sadly that would mean there's no one left to do the congratulating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/we-all-deserve-to-be-congratulated-but-sadly-that-would-mean-there-s/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Well yoy did it,"I congratulated Patch. "I´m as trained as I´ll ever be-a lean, mean sword-fighting machine. I should have made you my personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/well-yoy-did-it-i-congratulated-patch-i-m-as-trained-as-i-ll-ever-be/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“It was like getting congratulated for losing  weight when you didn’t think anyone else had noticed that you needed to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-was-like-getting-congratulated-for-losing-weight-when-you-didn-t/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [My true satisfaction came when my parents told me that someone had seen me on TV and congratulated them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirti-kulhari/my-true-satisfaction-came-when-my-parents-told-me-that-someone-had/) [Kirti Kulhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirti-kulhari/) > [After I signed for Man City, the people back home in Brazil congratulated me for signing for one of the top teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernandinho/after-i-signed-for-man-city-the-people-back-home-in-brazil/) [Fernandinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernandinho/) > [“Diana seemed content with her role of wife, too. Colby congratulated himself. He’d chosen well the second time around, even if he had chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-ann-krentz/diana-seemed-content-with-her-role-of-wife-too-colby-congratulated/) [Jayne Ann Krentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-ann-krentz/) > [If someone plays six World Cups, they deserve to be congratulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/if-someone-plays-six-world-cups-they-deserve-to-be-congratulated/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [No, as it turns out, I really like being congratulated on my weight loss. I like it so much, it's tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/no-as-it-turns-out-i-really-like-being-congratulated-on-my-weight/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [The moon in all her immaculate purity hung in the sky, laughing at this world of dust. She congratulated me for my carefully considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shan-sa/the-moon-in-all-her-immaculate-purity-hung-in-the-sky-laughing-at/) [Shan Sa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shan-sa/) > [“No matter what side you were on, if you had survived Gettysburg you were to be congratulated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-jiles/no-matter-what-side-you-were-on-if-you-had-survived-gettysburg-you/) [Paulette Jiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-jiles/) > [“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/odd-don-t-you-think-i-have-seen-war-and-invasions-and-riots-i-have/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/soldiers-sailors-and-airmen-of-the-allied-expeditionary-force-you-are/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“I look at my mother, connected by a breath of glimmering hope, her red and shadowed eyes reveal that some element of our whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-nestor/i-look-at-my-mother-connected-by-a-breath-of-glimmering-hope-her-red/) [Alfred Nestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-nestor/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Congratulations quotes > [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ I don't think anybody can be a success who doesn't like what they do. \[But it's\] no job if it has no challenge; there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-be-a-success-who-doesn-t-like-what-they-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/often-a-certain-abdication-of-prudence-and-foresight-is-an-element-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [That means more to me, truthfully, than commercial success. To be a loved human being is much more important to me then any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/that-means-more-to-me-truthfully-than-commercial-success-to-be-a/) [Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/) > [Congratulations to each and every one of you for the concert last night in New York and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-ormandy/congratulations-to-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-the-concert-last/) [Eugene Ormandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-ormandy/) > [Congratulations to Thierry Henry on a truly wonderful career. One of the great footballers of our time and a top bloke. Bonne chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/congratulations-to-thierry-henry-on-a-truly-wonderful-career-one-of/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Heath took our first congratulations love birds photo!(: Together for eternity <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/heath-took-our-first-congratulations-love-birds-photo-together-for/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [“Congratulations. You took me down. And now, you have made everything that is sad, relevant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/congratulations-you-took-me-down-and-now-you-have-made-everything/) pleasefindthis > [From day-break to day end may you two find solace in each others arms! Many congratulations on your big day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-day-break-to-day-end-may-you-two-find-solace-in-each-others-arms/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“You're back where you swore yourself you wouldn't be The familiar shackles you can't tell from your own skin Your head's under water when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/you-re-back-where-you-swore-yourself-you-wouldn-t-be-the-familiar/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [Never rank, rate, or compare coaches, children, concerts, or championships or congratulations. Just enjoy them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/never-rank-rate-or-compare-coaches-children-concerts-or-championships/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [Congratulations! Wishing you lots of wonderful moments of togetherness now & always, may God bless you. Happy Engagement Day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-wishing-you-lots-of-wonderful-moments-of-togetherness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Congratulations on doing what we pay you to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-on-doing-what-we-pay-you-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Congratulations to Prince Charles for banning foie gras from all his functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-prince-charles-for-banning-foie-gras-from-all-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 527 Congratulations quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The occupying Russians, when they discovered that we were Americans, embraced us and congratulated us on the complete desolation our planes had wrought. 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