John Dos Passos - Three Soldiers (1921)

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The mind of a generation is its speech. A writer makes aspects of that speech enduring by putting them in print. He whittles at the words and phrases of today and makes of them forms to set the mind of tomorrow's generation. That's history. A writer who writes straight is the architect of history.

John Dos Passos

It's almost worth having been in the army for the joy your freedom gives you.

John Dos Passos

Life is to be used, not just held in the hand like a box of bonbons that nobody eats.

John Dos Passos

But what's the good of freedom? What can you do with it? What one wants is to live well and have a beautiful house and be respected by people.

John Dos Passos

Would not some lightning flash of vision sear people's consciousness into life again? What was the good of stopping the war if armies continued?

John Dos Passos