Temporary
‘Tenente,’ Passini said. ‘We understand you let us
‘Tenente,’ Passini said. ‘We understand you let us
talk. Listen. There is nothing as bad as war. We in
talk. Listen. There is nothing as bad as war. We in
the auto-ambulance cannot even realize at all how bad
the auto-ambulance cannot even realize at all how bad
it is. When people realize how bad it is they cannot do
it is. When people realize how bad it is they cannot do
anything to stop it because they go crazy. There are
anything to stop it because they go crazy. There are
some people who never realize. There are people who are
some people who never realize. There are people who are
afraid of their officers. It is with them that war is made.’
afraid of their officers. It is with them that war is made.’
S8
S8
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
T know it is bad but we must finish it.’
T know it is bad but we must finish it.’
Tt doesn’t finish. There is no finish to a war.’
Tt doesn’t finish. There is no finish to a war.’
‘Yes there is.’
‘Yes there is.’
Passini shook his head.
Passini shook his head.
‘War is not won by victory. What if we take San
‘War is not won by victory. What if we take San
Gabriele? What if we take the Carso and Monfalcone
Gabriele? What if we take the Carso and Monfalcone
and Trieste? Where are we then? Did you see all the
and Trieste? Where are we then? Did you see all the
far mountains to-day? Do you think we could take all
far mountains to-day? Do you think we could take all
them too? Only if the Austrians stop fighting. One
them too? Only if the Austrians stop fighting. One
side must stop fighting. Why don’t we stop fighting?
side must stop fighting. Why don’t we stop fighting?
If they come down into Italy they will get tired and go
If they come down into Italy they will get tired and go
away. They have their own country. But no, instead
away. They have their own country. But no, instead
there is a war.’
there is a war.’
‘You’re an orator.’
‘You’re an orator.’
‘We think. We read. We are not peasants. We are
‘We think. We read. We are not peasants. We are
mechanics. But even the peasants know better than to
mechanics. But even the peasants know better than to
believe in a war. Everybody hates this war.’
believe in a war. Everybody hates this war.’
‘There is a class that controls a country that is stupid
‘There is a class that controls a country that is stupid
and does not realize anything and never can. That is
and does not realize anything and never can. That is
why we have this war.’
why we have this war.’