A Memory of Solferino Quotes

“The moral sense of the importance of human life; the humane desire to lighten a little of the torments of all these poor wretches, or restote their shattered courage; the furious and relentless activity which a man summons up at such moments; all these combine to create a kind of energy which gies one a positive craving to relieve as many as one can.

There is no more grieving at the multiple scences of this fearful and solemn tragedy.”
― Henry Dunant, A Memory of Solferino

“Would it not be possible, in a time of peace and quiet, to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted and thoroghly qualified volunteers ?

Since the new and terrible methods of destruction are invented daily, with perseverance worthy of a better object, and since the inventors of these instruments of destruction are applauded and encouraged in most of the great European States, which are engaged in an armament race; and since finally the state of mind in Europe combines with many other symptoms to indicate the prospect of future wars, the avoidance of which, sooner or later, seems hardly possible, In view of all this, why could not advantage be taken of a time of relative calm and quiet to investigate and try to solve a question of such immense and worldwide importance, both from the humane and Christian standpoint ?”
― Henry Dunant, A Memory of Solferino

“But the women of Castiglione, seeing that I mad no distinction between nationalities, followed my example, showing the same kindness to these men whose origins were so different, and all of whom were foreigners to them. 'Tutti fratelli,' they repeated feelingly. All honour to these women, to these girls of Castiglione! Imperturbable, unwearying, unfaltering, their quiet self-sacrifice made little of fatigue and horrors, and of their own devotion.”
― Henry Dunant, A Memory of Solferino