--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s better this way,” said Elliot. “And…" description: "\"“It’s better this way,” said Elliot. “And if I came back—you’re probably both going to die. I’d be stranded and you’d be dead.” They were soldiers. Thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/sarah-rees-brennan-994_dead-soldiers_it-s-better-this-way-said-elliot-and-if_827513.png" --- # It’s better this way,” said Elliot. “And if I came… ![“It’s better this way,” said Elliot. “And if I came back—you’re probably both going to die. I’d be stranded and you’d be dead.” They were soldiers. This way, Elliot would never know if they died. He put the photo down. “I didn’t mean that,” he said. “You’re not going to die. I don’t know why I said…” quote by Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/sarah-rees-brennan-994_dead-soldiers_it-s-better-this-way-said-elliot-and-if_827513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/sarah-rees-brennan-994_dead-soldiers_it-s-better-this-way-said-elliot-and-if_827513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/sarah-rees-brennan-994_dead-soldiers_it-s-better-this-way-said-elliot-and-if_827513.png) > ““It’s better this way,” said Elliot. “And if I came back—you’re probably both going to die. I’d be stranded and you’d be dead.” They were soldiers. This way, Elliot would never know if they died. He put the photo down. “I didn’t mean that,” he said. “You’re not going to die. I don’t know why I said that.”” [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elliot expresses fear of death and uncertainty, then retracts, showing emotional turmoil among soldiers. **In simple terms:** Elliot is scared of death and doubts his words. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and process fear. Themes war psychology communication Mood tense empathetic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - military life - mental health support - storytelling Key Concepts trauma emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - How does fear influence decision making? - What helps soldiers cope with uncertainty? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-soldiers/) ## Related quotes > [“Omigosh,” I said. “Elliot broke into my house last night. It was him! 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Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/maggots-in-corpses-he-d-seen-whitely-churning-in-the-mouths-of-dead/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Conservatives are pro-life because they want live babies so they can raise them up to be dead soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/conservatives-are-pro-life-because-they-want-live-babies-so-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bravery is a virtue people revere in dead soldiers and then turn to disparage in someone extending her hand to a weirdo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cord-jefferson/bravery-is-a-virtue-people-revere-in-dead-soldiers-and-then-turn-to/) [Cord Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cord-jefferson/) ## More by Sarah Rees Brennan > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. 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When he tried to pull away, she held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-clenched-her-fist-in-his-t-shirt-put-her-other-arm-around-those/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“You existing in the world is all I need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-existing-in-the-world-is-all-i-need/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [I don't want to seem ungrateful when you have given me this thoughtful, homemade and totally terrifying gift," Jamie told him. "But you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-want-to-seem-ungrateful-when-you-have-given-me-this/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [She was kind of in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-was-kind-of-in-love-with-him/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Kami'd always retold her fairy tales to make the fair maidens braver and more self-sufficient, but she had never had any real objection to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/kami-d-always-retold-her-fairy-tales-to-make-the-fair-maidens-braver/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > ["Lay the knife at the tips of your fingers," Rob commanded. "So close youcan feel the blade against your skins. Then cut the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/lay-the-knife-at-the-tips-of-your-fingers-rob-commanded-so-close/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) [Explore all 313 Sarah Rees Brennan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) ## More Dead soldiers quotes > [Bravery is a virtue people revere in dead soldiers and then turn to disparage in someone extending her hand to a weirdo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cord-jefferson/bravery-is-a-virtue-people-revere-in-dead-soldiers-and-then-turn-to/) [Cord Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cord-jefferson/) > [Conservatives are pro-life because they want live babies so they can raise them up to be dead soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/conservatives-are-pro-life-because-they-want-live-babies-so-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Maggots in corpses. He'd seen. 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