Anthony Swofford Quotes

Writing the book helped exorcise all of that,.. Many years later, I'm happy that I didn't have that chance for a sniper kill.

chance writing happy book kill

I was a guy, sitting alone in a room in Portland, just wanting to tell people what it's like to be in a war, even if it lasts just four days. Especially if it lasts just four days.

people war days wanting guy

I think I learned something more about that history of mine,.. There's a, you know, young kid who had been changed by the Marine Corps but could also retain some of his humanity, some of his personality, and that was confirmed for me.

history humanity personality young learned

He taught me how to read as a writer

writer read

War is always seductive,.. 'Full Metal Jacket' didn't make me want to join the Marines. I already had fallen in love with the idea of combat. I think whether somebody feels that about our movie is subjective. It depends on the viewer. I got letters from people who said 'I was thinking about joining up and I read your book and now I can't wait' and I got letters from people who said 'I was thinking about joining up and I read your book and now I'm going to go to college.'

idea college people war book letters thinking movie metal read fallen love combat marines

If while alive you hurt or disappoint people you love, there's no use continuing such behavior when you're dead.

people death hurt disappointment dead alive behavior love

Every war is different. Every war is the same.

war

It occured to me that we will never be young again.

youth-age