“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.”
- July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961
- American
- Novelist, poet, journalist
- Wrote masterpieces such as “The Old Man and the Sea,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954
table of contents
Quote
“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.”
Explanation
In this quote, Hemingway challenges the romanticized notion of war that was prevalent in earlier times, particularly during periods like World War I, when the idea of dying for one’s country was often portrayed as noble and heroic. The phrase “sweet and fitting” comes from the famous line by the Roman poet Horace: “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country). Hemingway, however, starkly contrasts this idealistic view with the reality of modern war. He asserts that in the realities of contemporary conflict, there is nothing noble or just about dying in battle. Instead, he suggests that soldiers die in a manner that is pointless, brutal, and devoid of meaning—”like a dog”—a symbol of the senselessness of war. For Hemingway, the true nature of modern war is not about glory or honor, but about chaos and violence, where the sacrifice of life serves no greater purpose or moral justification.
Hemingway’s own experiences as an ambulance driver during World War I profoundly shaped his views on war. He saw firsthand the brutality, the waste of life, and the emotional and physical scars that war leaves behind. His novels, particularly A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls, convey the disillusionment and human cost of war, portraying soldiers not as noble heroes but as ordinary men caught in an unthinking machine of violence. The quote reflects Hemingway’s belief that war—especially in the modern, industrialized age—reduces life to something meaningless, where death comes without reason, and the sacrifice of individuals is rendered futile.
In the modern context, this quote resonates with contemporary anti-war sentiments and critiques of militarization. In today’s world, many still struggle with the idea that war is sometimes portrayed as a glorious or just cause, particularly in the context of nationalism or political power. Hemingway’s perspective remains relevant as it urges us to question the narratives we construct around war and to recognize the futility and devastation it brings, rather than glorifying the sacrifice of life for abstract ideals. His words remind us that, in the end, the true cost of war is borne by the individual soldier, whose death is often meaningless and without reason, a stark contrast to the idealized sacrifice depicted by earlier generations.
