--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be surprising if you didn’t hate…" description: "\"“It would be surprising if you didn’t hate me for what I’ve had to do today. A part of me hates myself. But I have orders. Winter is coming. My country..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/mark-t-sullivan-5366_unsung-hero_it-would-be-surprising-if-you-didn-t-hat_2049344.jpg" --- # It would be surprising if you didn’t hate me for what I’ve… ![“It would be surprising if you didn’t hate me for what I’ve had to do today. A part of me hates myself. But I have orders. Winter is coming. My country is under siege. Without this food, my people will starve. So here in Italy, and in your eyes, I’m a criminal. Back home, I’ll be an unsung hero…” quote by Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/mark-t-sullivan-5366_unsung-hero_it-would-be-surprising-if-you-didn-t-hat_2049344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/mark-t-sullivan-5366_unsung-hero_it-would-be-surprising-if-you-didn-t-hat_2049344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/mark-t-sullivan-5366_unsung-hero_it-would-be-surprising-if-you-didn-t-hat_2049344.jpg) > ““It would be surprising if you didn’t hate me for what I’ve had to do today. A part of me hates myself. But I have orders. Winter is coming. My country is under siege. Without this food, my people will starve. So here in Italy, and in your eyes, I’m a criminal. Back home, I’ll be an unsung hero. Good. Evil. It’s all a question of perspective, is it not?”” [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reflects on being judged as a criminal for harsh actions taken to protect his people, highlighting how morality can shift based on perspective and circumstance. **In simple terms:** Actions seen as evil may be heroic depending on viewpoint. Key Takeaway Consider context before labeling actions as good or bad. Themes morality perspective conflict Mood dramatic conflicted Type narrative reflective When to use this quote - war - humanitarian aid - political decision - personal sacrifice - public opinion Key Concepts ethical relativism duty survival Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal duty with broader harm? - When does necessity justify morally questionable deeds? A Different Perspective It may ignore the suffering caused by the actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Unsung hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsung-hero/) [Winter is coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter-is-coming/) ## Related quotes > [“Prison…was she a criminal? She didn’t think so. Technically, she was rebelling against the Government, against society, but…she was a criminal in the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-king/prison-was-she-a-criminal-she-didn-t-think-so-technically-she-was/) [Simone King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-king/) > [When you say there's too much evil in this world you assume there's good. When you assume there's good, you assume there's such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/when-you-say-there-s-too-much-evil-in-this-world-you-assume-there-s/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [ “\[after discussion about what evil is, a question asked to Elphaba on why she killed Madame Morrible\] "Why did you do it?" asked the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/after-discussion-about-what-evil-is-a-question-asked-to-elphaba-on/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [The evil in question reappears in the world after you vanquish it, often within mere minutes, and the world as a whole never changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lore-sjoberg/the-evil-in-question-reappears-in-the-world-after-you-vanquish-it/) [Lore Sjoberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lore-sjoberg/) > [“X “One doesn’t need to be a great hero to take down a great evil; they just need to be able to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-cramer/x-one-doesn-t-need-to-be-a-great-hero-to-take-down-a-great-evil-they/) Cody Cramer > [“We are none of us born into Eden," Doc said reasonably. "world's plenty evil when we get here. Question is, what's the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/we-are-none-of-us-born-into-eden-doc-said-reasonably-world-s-plenty/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“Better an unsung hero than a fallen star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/better-an-unsung-hero-than-a-fallen-star/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [These often unsung heroes understand...that poverty, disease and famine are just as deadly and destructive as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis. Individuals ...are taking on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/these-often-unsung-heroes-understand-that-poverty-disease-and-famine/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Alison Pill is the unsung hero of 'Three Tall Women' to me. She's extraordinary in this part, and she makes it look easy. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/alison-pill-is-the-unsung-hero-of-three-tall-women-to-me-she-s/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [“Better an unsung HERO than the source of envy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/better-an-unsung-hero-than-the-source-of-envy/) [Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/) > [“Sitting alone in the alley of dark submissive loneliness. Retrospecting on the things that were left unsaid , only if they weren't ! The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyamin-gulzar/sitting-alone-in-the-alley-of-dark-submissive-loneliness/) [BinYamin Gulzar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyamin-gulzar/) > [As soon as someone is identified as an unsung hero, he no longer is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/as-soon-as-someone-is-identified-as-an-unsung-hero-he-no-longer-is/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The iPod wasn't the first MP3 player. Nor were the iPhone and iPad the first in their categories. The real reason for the success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/the-ipod-wasn-t-the-first-mp3-player-nor-were-the-iphone-and-ipad-the/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [“If someone creates a Nobel Prize for Unsung Hero, my nominee will be the divorced single mother”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-mavis-hetherington/if-someone-creates-a-nobel-prize-for-unsung-hero-my-nominee-will-be/) E.Mavis Hetherington > [Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/since-about-1980-kenny-werner-has-been-one-of-jazz-s-unsung-heroes/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## More by Mark T. Sullivan > [“I will give you some advice, Vorarbeiter. Advice that could change your life.” “Oui, mon général?” “Doing favors,” Leyers said. “They help wondrously over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/i-will-give-you-some-advice-vorarbeiter-advice-that-could-change-your/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“How do you find happiness?” Anna paused, then said, “You start by looking right around you for the blessings you have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/how-do-you-find-happiness-anna-paused-then-said-you-start-by-looking/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“we can’t stop loving our fellow man, Pino, because we’re frightened. If we lose love, all is lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/we-can-t-stop-loving-our-fellow-man-pino-because-we-re-frightened-if/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“How do men think of such wickedness?” Anna asked as wax dripped down the candle and pooled about the holder. “Don’t they fear for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/how-do-men-think-of-such-wickedness-anna-asked-as-wax-dripped-down/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“It all made Pino realize that the earth did not know war, that nature would go on no matter what horror one man might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/it-all-made-pino-realize-that-the-earth-did-not-know-war-that-nature/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“Music. Wine. A cigar. The small luxuries of life are how we survive what the mind can’t fathom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/music-wine-a-cigar-the-small-luxuries-of-life-are-how-we-survive-what/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“forty-nine thousand Jews in Italy at the time of the Nazi invasion, some forty-one thousand evaded arrest or survived the concentration camps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/forty-nine-thousand-jews-in-italy-at-the-time-of-the-nazi-invasion/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“You know, my young friend, I will be ninety years old next year, and life is still a constant surprise to me. We never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/you-know-my-young-friend-i-will-be-ninety-years-old-next-year-and/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“You know, my young friend, I will be ninety years old next year, and life is still a constant surprise to me. We never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/you-know-my-young-friend-i-will-be-ninety-years-old-next-year-and-2/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“Anna said. “I’m a student of happiness, you know. It’s all I really want—happiness, every day for the rest of my life. Sometimes happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/anna-said-i-m-a-student-of-happiness-you-know-it-s-all-i-really-want/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“Pino saw the trials of the past few weeks in a different light, and he felt excited and filled with new purpose. “You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/pino-saw-the-trials-of-the-past-few-weeks-in-a-different-light-and-he/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“We never know what will happen next, what we will see, and what important person will come into our life, or what important person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/we-never-know-what-will-happen-next-what-we-will-see-and-what/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“You see, Vorarbeiter, in the game of life, it is always preferable to be a man of the shadows, and even the darkness, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/you-see-vorarbeiter-in-the-game-of-life-it-is-always-preferable-to-be/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“You see, Vorarbeiter, in the game of life, it is always preferable to be a man of the shadows, and even the darkness, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/you-see-vorarbeiter-in-the-game-of-life-it-is-always-preferable-to-be-2/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [“we can’t stop loving our fellow man, Pino, because we’re frightened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/we-can-t-stop-loving-our-fellow-man-pino-because-we-re-frightened/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) [Explore all 100 Mark T. Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) ## More Hate quotes > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I do so hate to be forced to be anything than other than what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/i-do-so-hate-to-be-forced-to-be-anything-than-other-than-what-i-am/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [I hate watching myself speak German, it's painful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/i-hate-watching-myself-speak-german-it-s-painful/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I have a way to photograph. 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It's love-hate; it's sexy, but not sexy. So it's either you get it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/i-ve-got-the-long-hair-and-kind-of-androgynous-look-it-s-love-hate-it/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) [Browse all 17,830 Hate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It would be surprising if you didn’t hate me for what I’ve had to do today. A part of me hates myself. But I have orders. Winter is coming. My country is under siege. Without this food, my people will starve. So here in Italy, and in your eyes, I’m a criminal. Back home, I’ll be an unsung hero. Good. Evil. It’s all a question of perspective, is it not?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark T. 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