How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Apocalypse Now.
Quote #7
WILLARD (quoting Kurtz): In a war there are many moments for compassion and tender action. There are many moments for ruthless action—what is often called ruthless—what may in many circumstances be only clarity, seeing clearly what there is to be done and doing it, directly, quickly, awake, looking at it.
Kurtz doesn't see his ruthlessness as excessive—just as something necessary to win the war. He thinks it's important to be able to separate moral judgment from the actions that need to be taken to win the war.
Quote #8
KURTZ: I remember when I was with Special Forces...seems a thousand centuries ago. We went into a camp to inoculate some children. We left the camp after we had inoculated the children for polio, and this old man came running after us and he was crying. He couldn't see. We went back there, and they had come and hacked off every inoculated arm. There they were in a pile. A pile of little arms. And I remember...I...I...I cried, I wept like some grandmother. I wanted to tear my teeth out; I didn't know what I wanted to do!
Kurtz at one time had compassion. He still thinks he has compassion—he's just able to put it aside in order to do what it takes to win the war.
Quote #9
KURTZ: You have to have men who are moral...and at the same time who are able to utilize their primordial instincts to kill without feeling...without passion...without judgment...without judgment! Because it's judgment that defeats us.
Kurtz isn't a fan of letting your morals get in the way of doing your soldierly duty. He thinks it'll just lead you to wimping out and not doing what really needs to be done.