Conscience Quote by Ronald Schaffer
““Killing Japanese didn’t bother me at that time. It was getting the war over with that bothered me. So I wasn’t worried particularly about how many people we killed in getting the job done… . All war is immoral, and if you let it bother you, you’re not a good soldier.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Veteran Reflections, 1995
War’s immorality outweighs strategic goals; a soldier should question the morality of killing, not just the mission.
In simple terms: War is immoral; soldiers should reflect on ethics.
Key Takeaway
Question the ethics of combat actions.
Themes
war
ethics
morality
soldier
conscience
Mood
somber
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
conscience:1
immoral:1
time:0
war:1
job done:0
killing japanese:0
japanese didn:0
war immoral:1
war bothered:1
When to use this quote
- combat debriefings
- military ethics classes
- personal journaling on combat experiences
Key Concepts
immoral warfare
psychological burden
military duty
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be a good soldier?
- How can soldiers reconcile duty with morality?
A Different Perspective
Soldiers may suppress conscience under pressure.