this is a task that will make life afterward worthy of these hideous years.
Paul holds in his mind the noble endeavor of understanding others as the aim of his existence come the end of the war. While these thoughts of sympathy and compassion lead only to "the abyss" during conflict, they are what brings purpose to the dread accountin of a soldier, Paul knows that something beutiful can come from somwthing vile- or at least he strives to make it so.
