He who joyfully marches to music rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.

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About this quote

This quote is useful for people who need to move from information into invention. It turns imagination into a practical force for problem solving, learning, and original work.

When to use it

  • Return to it when a young student or maker needs permission to treat imagination as serious work.
  • Use it before a blank-page project, when the practical plan is clear but the idea still needs a more original shape.
  • Keep it near a research, design, or writing workflow as a reminder that discovery often begins before proof is complete.