In Dubious Battle

Out of all this struggle a good thing is going to grow. That makes it worthwhile.

I want to see the whole picture - as nearly as I can. I don’t want to put on the blinders of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, and limit my vision. If I used the term ‘good’ on a thing I’d lose my license to inspect it, because there might be bad in it. Don’t you see? I want to be able to look at the whole thing.

Sometimes I think you realists are the most sentimental people in the world.

Mostly I’m too damn busy to know how I feel.

I don’t mind getting smacked on the chin. I just don’t want to get nibbled to death. There’s a difference.

Why, they're the dirtiest guys in any town. They're the same ones that burned the houses of old German people during the war. They're the same ones that lynch Negroes. They like to be cruel. They like to hurt people, and they always give it a nice name, patriotism or protecting the constitution.

It’s funny how you want to do a thing and never do it.

It seems to me that man has engaged in a blind and fearful struggle out of a past he can't remember, into a future he can't foresee nor understand. And man has met and defeated every obstacle, every enemy except one. He cannot win over himself. How mankind hates himself.

The doctor said softly, “Sometimes I think you realists are the most sentimental people in the world.