A Soldier of the Great War

by Mark Helprin

“The only halfway decent thing about this war, Alessandro, is that it teaches you the relation between risk and hope.”

We’re nervous here, but not afraid. We have all looked into our souls, one way or another, and are content to die if need be. The only thing left to say is that I love you.

“It was easy to be clever, but hard to look into the face of God, who is found not so much by cleverness as by stillness.”