Battle Quote by Zhou Yu
“The noble person who has eaten of his lord's bounty should die in his lord's battles; to return to one's home dead and wrapped in a horse's hide is a happy fate. Am I the sort of people to bring to nought the grand designs of my country?”
About This Quote
Source Historical Record: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 3rd century
A noble should die fighting for his lord, finding honor in death rather than returning home in defeat.
In simple terms: Honor lies in fighting for one's leader.
Key Takeaway
Choose honorable service over safety.
Themes
honor
loyalty
war
death
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military service
- political leadership
- family expectations
- national crises
Key Concepts
confucian duty
martial valor
Questions to Reflect On
- What does honor mean today?
- How do you balance duty and self-preservation?
A Different Perspective
Modern contexts may reject glorifying death in battle.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
