“War is hell, but sometimes in the midst of that hell men do things that heaven itself must be proud of. A hand grenade is hurled into a group of men. One of the men throws himself on top of it, making his body a living shield. In the burst of wild fire he dies, and the others live. Heroism is only a word, often a phony one. This is an action for which there is no good word because we can hardly even imagine it, let alone give it its proper name. Very literally, one man takes death into his bowels, takes fire into his own sweet flesh, so that the other men can take life, some of them men he hardly knows.”
Quote by Frederick Buechner
Work
The Hungering Dark: Discovering God's Hidden Grace and Hope Through Biblical Faith and Doubt
Browse quotes and source details for this work. more
Author
Frederick Buechner
Frederick Buechner, born on July 11, 1926, is a renowned American writer. His works span across various genres including novels, essays, and plays, known for their profound religious and philosophical reflections. more
You May Also Like
“Nitajisikia raha sana kufungwa kwa ajili ya matatizo watu.”
“Sacrifices are no sacrifices when they are repaid a thousand fold.”
Source: Liber Amoris, or, the New Pygmalion
Source: From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph over Death and Conscious Encounters With the Divine Presence
Source: Upon Destiny's Song
Source: Upon Destiny's Song
Source: When You Were Pixels
Source: Thirst No More: A One-Year Devotional Journey
“If God himself can't save this world without sacrifice... how can we?”
Source: The Last City of America
Source: Austerlitz