Behinds Quote by Wilfred Owen
“If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,-- My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Dulce et Decorum Est, 1917
The poem depicts the horrific reality of war, contrasting glorified rhetoric with brutal suffering of soldiers.
In simple terms: War is gruesome, not glorious.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the true cost of conflict.
Themes
war
suffering
illusion
truth
humanity
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
poetic
anti‑war
When to use this quote
- military training
- historical education
- anti‑war activism
Key Concepts
combat trauma
propaganda
moral disillusionment
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the poem reveal about propaganda?
- How can societies honor soldiers without glorifying war?
A Different Perspective
Peace advocacy
