You're not much to begin with, but I'll do my best. The first thing to do is to forget everything you ever knew, everything you ever learned - Forget! See. Forget what you've been, and what you think you're going to be. You're going to be soldiers, and that's all. I'll take the mother's milk out of you, I'll make you hard-boiled. I'll make soldiers out of you, or kill you!
More from All Quiet on the Western Front
Franz Kemmerich They've cut my leg off. Why didn't they tell me?...I can't walk any more.
Soldier They never taught us anything really useful, like how to light a cigarette in the wind, or make a fire out of wet wood, or bayonet a man in the belly.
Albert Kropp I won't be a cripple. I won't live, I tell you...I'll kill myself the first chance I get! I won't live! I won't live!
All Quiet on the Western Front
All All Quiet on the Western Front quotes →
All All Quiet on the Western Front quotes →
