“The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.”
What this quote means
This quote from Wilfred Owen denounces the propaganda that beautifies death in combat. The Latin phrase 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori' ('It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country') was used to encourage young men to enlist, but Owen, who experienced the hell of the trenches, calls it an 'old lie'. He knows that death in war is neither sweet nor honorable; it is brutal, absurd, and dehumanizing. This quote warns us against nationalist rhetoric that sanctifies sacrifice and invites us to see the reality of war, with all its horror.
How to apply it daily
Analyze the political or media discourses you hear about war and patriotism, and question ready-made ideas that glorify violence.
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