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But to the hero, when his sword
Has won the battle for the free,
Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word,
And in its hollow tones are heard
The thanks of millions yet to be.

— Fitz-Greene Halleck

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Heroes

More quotes by Fitz-Greene Halleck

There is an evening twilight of the heart,
When its wild passion-waves are lulled to rest.

Strike—for your altars and your fires!
Strike—for the green graves of your sires!
God, and your native land!

Green be the turf above thee,
Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee,
Nor named thee but to praise.

Come when the heart beats high and warm,
With banquet song, and dance, and wine!

One of the few, the immortal names,
That were not born to die.

All Fitz-Greene Halleck quotes →

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The blood of the heroes is closer to God than the ink of the philosophers and the prayers of the faithful.

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Heroism is a myth you tell idealistic young people—specifically when you want them to go bleed for you.

Brandon Sanderson Rhythm of War (2020)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Fitz-Greene Halleck (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.