Justice Quote by Rick Atkinson
““They believed that overpowering the feeble French meant something. They believed in the righteousness of their cause, the inevitability of their victory, and the immortality of their young souls. And as they wheeled around to the east and pulled out their Michelin maps of Tunisia, they believed they had actually been to war.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Fall of the Third Reich, 1968
The quote sat the hubris and moral certainty of soldiers who justify war through destiny and youthful idealism.
In simple terms: Soldiers felt their cause was righteous and inevitable.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of unquestioned conviction.
Themes
war
ideology
hubris
youth
nationalism
Mood
reflective
critical
somber
Type
historical
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military training
- political rhetoric
- historical analysis
- education about war
Key Concepts
Moral certainty
destiny
propaganda
psychology of combat
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives people to see war as noble?
- How can societies challenge such certainty?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks dissenting voices and the moral cost of war.
![“This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day [as a Fairfax Justice of the Peace] since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b92/george-mason-8435_bedfellows_this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young_3953.jpg)
