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Memorial Day Quotes

This page is assembled from three others: War, Death and Gratitude. There is no memorial collection underneath it. One poem is filed against the day itself, Joyce Kilmer’s, in Trees and Other Poems (1914), and it opens with a bugle that, he says, is not singing of war today.

The rest is whatever the three source pages rate highest, so it leans toward poetry and toward writers who saw war up close. Several famous lines about death and sacrifice carry flags here, so read the note on a quote’s own page before you attach a name to it.

Random quote on Memorial Day

Most quoted on memorial day:

They are in love. Fuck the war.

Thomas Pynchon Gravity's Rainbow (1973)

The shotgun is the most immoral and reprehensible weapon to ever be deployed. We fight this war with the hopes of vanquishing these weapons from the continent.

Wilhelm II, German Emperor

After 20 years of war in Afghanistan, I refuse to send another generation of America’s sons and daughters to fight a war that should have ended long ago.

Joe Biden

Why did virtually every culture reward its men for enduring violence? So it would have a cadre of people available to protect it in war.

Warren Farrell Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say (2000)

There are no harmless political lies about a war. The more such lies citizens tolerate, the more wars they will get.

James Bovard

All this was shattered by the war.

Martin Esslin The Theatre of the Absurd (1961)

The World War II generation faced threats head-on. Now, by inactivity or through liberal self-loathing, we help those who are trying to kill us.

Michael Savage Scorched Earth: Restoring the Country after Obama (2016)

We started off with this fairly grand concept of, if you were to tackle it at a children's level, eliminating war. What would you do?

Jim Henson Interview with Associated Press (1987)

Russia started this war and has been the aggressor and violator in the conflict. Ukraine deserves the right to defend itself.

Nikki Haley

We have a solution for war. It is to expand the sphere of liberty.

Rudolph Rummel Rudolph Rummel Talks About the Miracle of Liberty and Peace (1997)

Funny how Fareed Zakaria has a war criminal, Colin Powell, pontificating on Trump and the rule of law.

Medea Benjamin

I'm no politician. I think my being Miss Universe will show people that Israel has another side, not only war.

Rina Mor Miss Universe Captivates New York (1976)

The language being heard on the frontline is mainly Polish and English. Are you bastards thinking that sooner or later this war won't come to you?

Vladimir Solovyov

This is jihad. This is a jihad, this is a holy war!

Vladimir Solovyov

The country is at war! You have to be able to control your emotions!

Vladimir Solovyov

In our time, I don't believe there can be a full-scale hot war like the Second World War, nor a long Cold War, but a war of a third type. It will be a cyberwar.

Margarita Simonyan

Guys, there will be a big war, for sure. By the end of winter, something very big will happen!

Margarita Simonyan

For us, the war in Ukraine is a rehearsal. Rehearsal for a possible bigger conflict in the future.

Alexei Fenenko

I am more concerned with what is happening to my people in my country than war. We have lived through two wars and seen their promises turn to bitter ashes.

Charlotta Bass Speech at Progressive Party Convention (1952)

Organize and fight, to stay out of war! Against all imperialism and fascism, including American!

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn May 1st: The Sun of Tomorrow (1941)

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