231 Quotes About World-war-ii

Anton had the feeling that by doing something which was within his power but which he could not quite think of, he could undo everything and return to the way they had been before, sitting around the table playing a game. It was as if he had forgotten a name remebered a hundred times before and now on the tip of his tongue, but the harder he tried to recall it, the more elusive it became.

My father chose acquiescence and life rather than resistance and death. Not a very admirable choice, but a very human one.

[Admiral] Halsey was jubilant. Of the Princess-Saratoga strike, he wrote: 'I sincerely expected both air groups to be cut to pieces, and both carriers stricken if not lost. (I tried hard not to remember that my son Bill was aboard one of them.)

Does the surgeon spare the cancer because he must cut to remove it? We are cruel. Of course we are cruel.

Since youre here, Courtauld said wearily, youd better explain why these lollipops or whatever they're called have to be on silk. If I'd had a lollipop I knew precisely where Id stick it.

And there was something else that came through loud and clear. Something I saw in Leonard’s eyes sometimes when he was remembering those times. Whether they openly share their experiences with us, or keep them buried deep inside, these men all have a profound and overriding sense of pride that they accepted the challenge and they did the difficult and dirty job that absolutely had to be done.

Still, when the shooting and shelling stopped, they could sometimes -- not often, but sometimes -- see that they were just someone’s son, or husband, or brother.

But who knows? It was war time. Your values get distorted.

When the train stopped the local townspeople along the way offered us coffee and sandwiches. It gave you a good feeling, seeing them come out to the train. These were the people we would be fighting for.