Affair Quote by Robert Hughes
““When the war (WWI) finally ended it was necessary for both sides to maintain, indeed even to inflate, the myth of sacrifice so that the whole affair would not be seen for what it was: a meaningless waste of millions of lives. Logically, if the flower of youth had been cut down in Flanders, the survivors were not the flower: the dead were superior to the traumatized living. In this way, the virtual destruction of a generation further increased the distance between the old and the young, between the official and the unofficial.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Shock of the New, Robert Hughes, 1981
After WWI, societies inflated the sacrifice myth to mask the war’s senseless loss, creating a generational divide between survivors and the dead.
In simple terms: War’s waste was hidden by glorifying sacrifice.
Key Takeaway
Recognize myths that conceal tragedy.
Themes
war
memory
mythmaking
Mood
critical
somber
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- memorial design
- public debates
- family storytelling
Key Concepts
historical narrative
psychology
political discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies cling to heroic war narratives?
- How does this myth affect younger generations?
A Different Perspective
Myths can simplify complex grief, hindering honest healing.
