--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's it like to be that goofy little…" description: "\"“What's it like to be that goofy little soldier, scared stiff, with his bayonet aimed at Christ? What's it like to have been a woman in a defense-plant..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/studs-terkel-3020_soldier_what-s-it-like-to-be-that-goofy-little-s_2343410.jpg" --- # What's it like to be that goofy little soldier, scared… ![“What's it like to be that goofy little soldier, scared stiff, with his bayonet aimed at Christ? What's it like to have been a woman in a defense-plant job during World War II? What's it like to be a kid at the front lines? It's all funny and tragic at the same time” quote by Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/studs-terkel-3020_soldier_what-s-it-like-to-be-that-goofy-little-s_2343410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/studs-terkel-3020_soldier_what-s-it-like-to-be-that-goofy-little-s_2343410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/studs-terkel-3020_soldier_what-s-it-like-to-be-that-goofy-little-s_2343410.jpg) > ““What's it like to be that goofy little soldier, scared stiff, with his bayonet aimed at Christ? What's it like to have been a woman in a defense-plant job during World War II? What's it like to be a kid at the front lines? It's all funny and tragic at the same time”” [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote juxtaposes varied wartime experiences to highlight the absurdity and tragedy of conflict across roles and genders. **In simple terms:** War shows absurdity and tragedy for all involved. Key Takeaway Recognize shared humanity in diverse experiences. Themes war humanity absurdity gender role Mood reflective somber thoughtful Type narrative historical philosophical When to use this quote - Veterans - factory workers - children in war zones - civil rights discussions Key Concepts Historical trauma social perspective identity empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do different wartime roles shape personal identity? - What common threads link these experiences? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex histories and individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-tragic-446043/) [Little Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-soldier-1347665/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-scared-4072754/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [The history of those who shed those other tears, the history of those anonymous millions, is what Terkel wants readers and listeners to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-history-of-those-who-shed-those-other-tears-the-history-of-those/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Scared. That’s good. A fine soldier is always scared. Makes you normal. It’s how you respond to it that makes or breaks you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/scared-that-s-good-a-fine-soldier-is-always-scared-makes-you-normal/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Little soldier, little insect You know war it has no heart It will kill you in the sunshine Or happily in the the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/little-soldier-little-insect-you-know-war-it-has-no-heart-it-will/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [World War II revealed two of the enduring features of the Keynesian Revolution. One was the moral difference between spending for welfare and spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/world-war-ii-revealed-two-of-the-enduring-features-of-the-keynesian/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [If you think of yourself as funny, you become tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/if-you-think-of-yourself-as-funny-you-become-tragic/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [I think that it's so powerful for me to go see someone like Bridget Everett at Joe's Pub and watch her weave her songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-think-that-it-s-so-powerful-for-me-to-go-see-someone-like-bridget/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [“It’s almost funny, in a tragic way, that the fiery thing at the center of my universe did die and that I, a girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-henry/it-s-almost-funny-in-a-tragic-way-that-the-fiery-thing-at-the-center/) [Emily Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-henry/) > [I find that very appealing: the blurring of the lines between what's funny and what's tragic. And what's ordinary and what's not - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/i-find-that-very-appealing-the-blurring-of-the-lines-between-what-s/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [Life can be very funny and very tragic. Everyone has stuff that they've been through that makes up whatever fire it is that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/life-can-be-very-funny-and-very-tragic-everyone-has-stuff-that-they/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [All the other books ask, 'What's it like?' What was World War II like for the young kid at Normandy, or what is work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-the-other-books-ask-what-s-it-like-what-was-world-war-ii-like-for/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Did you know that at one time trick-or-treating was stopped? It's true. During World War II children were not allowed to trick or treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bozzo/did-you-know-that-at-one-time-trick-or-treating-was-stopped-it-s-true/) [Linda Bozzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bozzo/) > [My fascination with war is because my dad was in World War II, and my brother was in Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/my-fascination-with-war-is-because-my-dad-was-in-world-war-ii-and-my/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [There will be no veterans of World War III.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-f-mondale/there-will-be-no-veterans-of-world-war-iii/) [Walter F. Mondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-f-mondale/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Studs Terkel > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-read-somewhere-that-when-a-person-takes-part-in-community-action/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I never drove a car. I'm hopeless that way. I press the wrong buttons on the tape recorder. But if the person I'm interviewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-never-drove-a-car-i-m-hopeless-that-way-i-press-the-wrong-buttons/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [To survive the day is triumph enough for the walking wounded among the great many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/to-survive-the-day-is-triumph-enough-for-the-walking-wounded-among/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“I’ll never forget that Depression Easter Sunday. Our son was four years old. I bought ten or fifteen cents’ worth of eggs. You didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-ll-never-forget-that-depression-easter-sunday-our-son-was-four/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-you-need-in-life-is-truth-and-beauty-and-you-can-find-both-at-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Reading a book should not be a passive exercise, but rather a raucous conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/reading-a-book-should-not-be-a-passive-exercise-but-rather-a-raucous/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-for-peace-and-sanity-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“The total cost of the Federal Arts Project was only $23 million. Many of these paintings, sculptures and prints were given to museums, courthouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-total-cost-of-the-federal-arts-project-was-only-23-million-many/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-of-little-meaning-our-language/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Who knows Bob’s name in this outfit—let alone his lame child’s? (“The last place I worked for, I was let go,” recalls the bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/who-knows-bob-s-name-in-this-outfit-let-alone-his-lame-child-s-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-trouble-with-censorship-is-that-once-it-starts-it-is-hard-to-stop/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) [Explore all 142 Studs Terkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## More Soldier quotes > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. 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I knew the movie Peducted would get a reaction, because it's showing a different vision of our soldiers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-palma/you-never-can-predict-things-i-knew-the-movie-peducted-would-get-a/) [Brian De Palma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-palma/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I wouldn't want to play a normal princess who always walks around in nice dresses. I never had a connection to it when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-wouldn-t-want-to-play-a-normal-princess-who-always-walks-around-in/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [“Yes, Ryn, a woman. A soldier who has taken the heads of gods, escaped from countless prisons and dungeons, and decimated an army of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-lovell/yes-ryn-a-woman-a-soldier-who-has-taken-the-heads-of-gods-escaped/) [Bethany Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-lovell/) > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [You must give soldiers reasons to have confidence and pride in themselves, in their leaders, and in their units. Only then will you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-dunaway/you-must-give-soldiers-reasons-to-have-confidence-and-pride-in/) [George W. Dunaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-dunaway/) > [“I looked at him, tipping down the coarse wine like a man who expects to put up with worse. I felt I was looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/i-looked-at-him-tipping-down-the-coarse-wine-like-a-man-who-expects/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [I somewhere along the way became fascinated with exploring characters who are willing to put themselves into violent situations, whether it's football, hockey, boxing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/i-somewhere-along-the-way-became-fascinated-with-exploring-characters/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [It takes all sorts to make a world - saints as well as soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/it-takes-all-sorts-to-make-a-world-saints-as-well-as-soldiers/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [American soldiers had to guard prisoners on the inside while receiving mortar and weapons fire from the outside. Guantanamo is distant from any battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/american-soldiers-had-to-guard-prisoners-on-the-inside-while/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. 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