He was tired of science. . .

"Ian had been studying to be an engineer, before the war, but his service in France seemed to have knocked all desire for engineering out of him. He was tired of science, he said.

"'Why?' I questioned.

"'Well, in times of peace, it takes away a man's job. In times of war, it takes away his life.'"

~~ from East Goes West by Younghill Kang