--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather have this life of combat…" description: "\"I would rather have this life of combat than the moral calm and mournful stupor of these last years. God give me struggle, enemies, howling crowds, all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg" --- # I would rather have this life of combat than the moral… ![“I would rather have this life of combat than the moral calm and mournful stupor of these last years. God give me struggle, enemies, howling crowds, all the combot of which I am capable.” quote by Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg) > “I would rather have this life of combat than the moral calm and mournful stupor of these last years. God give me struggle, enemies, howling crowds, all the combot of which I am capable.” [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A life of struggle and conflict is preferred over a calm, passive existence; seeking hardship fuels purpose and vitality. **In simple terms:** Struggle is more meaningful than idle peace. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to feel alive. Themes conflict purpose vitality Mood determined passionate Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - military service - activism - career change - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism humanism war literature Questions to Reflect On - What struggles have shaped you positively? - Can peace coexist with meaningful purpose? A Different Perspective Constant conflict can cause burnout and loss of health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Combat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combat/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Yes, my life is a life of combat; I can say that this has never stopped for a single instant. It is a combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/yes-my-life-is-a-life-of-combat-i-can-say-that-this-has-never-stopped/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [“Life is a combat zone. People who say it isn't have already lost the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/life-is-a-combat-zone-people-who-say-it-isn-t-have-already-lost-the/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [I've been very active all my life. I was a combat instructor in the Israeli Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gal-gadot/i-ve-been-very-active-all-my-life-i-was-a-combat-instructor-in-the/) [Gal Gadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gal-gadot/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [A warrior is always aware of what is worth fighting for. He does not go into combat over things that do not concern him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-is-always-aware-of-what-is-worth-fighting-for-he-does-not/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [As a soldier and combat veteran, I believe American military forces should only be used in the defense and furtherance of our nation's vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/as-a-soldier-and-combat-veteran-i-believe-american-military-forces/) [Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/) > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“It is believed by many that the military life is one of adventure and excitement. In truth, that life more often consists of long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn-star-wars-thrawn/it-is-believed-by-many-that-the-military-life-is-one-of-adventure-and/) [Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn-star-wars-thrawn/) > [Success flourishes only in perseverance ceaseless, restless perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-flourishes-only-in-perseverance-ceaseless-restless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Im a ham. I was immediately attracted to fencing because it seemed like a romantic, melodramatic form of combat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/im-a-ham-i-was-immediately-attracted-to-fencing-because-it-seemed/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) ## More by Romain Rolland > [“I distrust official charity. All charity should be done by stealth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/i-distrust-official-charity-all-charity-should-be-done-by-stealth/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [The artist is the compass which, through the raging of the storm, points steadily to the north.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-artist-is-the-compass-which-through-the-raging-of-the-storm/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [One day History will pass judgment on each of the nations at war; she will weigh their measure of errors, lies, and heinous follies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/one-day-history-will-pass-judgment-on-each-of-the-nations-at-war-she/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [The greatest book is not the one whose message engraves itself on the brain, as a telegraphic message engraves itself on the ticker-tape, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-greatest-book-is-not-the-one-whose-message-engraves-itself-on-the/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivalled courage among religions with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-true-vedantic-spirit-does-not-start-out-with-a-system-of/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [“They were the only members of their family, and they were both humble, crushed, and thrust aside by life; they were united in sadness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/they-were-the-only-members-of-their-family-and-they-were-both-humble/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [One makes mistakes; that is life. But it is never a mistake to have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/one-makes-mistakes-that-is-life-but-it-is-never-a-mistake-to-have/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [There are some dead who are more alive than the living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/there-are-some-dead-who-are-more-alive-than-the-living/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [I know at last what distinguishes man from animals; financial worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/i-know-at-last-what-distinguishes-man-from-animals-financial-worries/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [Love of my country does not demand that I shall hate and slay those noble and faithful souls who also love theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/love-of-my-country-does-not-demand-that-i-shall-hate-and-slay-those/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [Let us return to our eagle's nest in the Himalayas. It is waiting for us, for it is ours, eaglets of Europe, we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/let-us-return-to-our-eagle-s-nest-in-the-himalayas-it-is-waiting-for/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [If a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/if-a-man-is-to-shed-the-light-of-the-sun-upon-other-men-he-must-first/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [History furnishes to politics all the arguments that it needs, for the chosen cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/history-furnishes-to-politics-all-the-arguments-that-it-needs-for-the/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [Let us seek truth everywhere; let us cull it wherever we can find its blossom or its SEED. Having Found the seed, let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/let-us-seek-truth-everywhere-let-us-cull-it-wherever-we-can-find-its/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [The greatest human ideal is the great cause of bringing together the thoughts of Europe and Asia; the great soul of India will topple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-greatest-human-ideal-is-the-great-cause-of-bringing-together-the/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) [Explore all 64 Romain Rolland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather have this life of combat than the moral calm and mournful stupor of these last years. God give me struggle, enemies, howling crowds, all the combot of which I am capable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Romain Rolland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat-than-the-moral-calm-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat-than-the-moral-calm-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/romain-rolland-10123_calm_i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat_833322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would rather have this life of combat than the moral calm and mournful stupor of these last years. God…” — Romain Rolland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Romain Rolland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would rather have this life...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat-than-the-moral-calm-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/i-would-rather-have-this-life-of-combat-than-the-moral-calm-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```