How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
A guy can think of being dead a hundred years from now and he doesn't mind it. But to think of being dead tomorrow morning and to be dead forever to be nothing but dust and stink in the earth is that liberty? (10.5)
Sure, we all have to die someday, but when actually confronted with the possibility that today might be your last day on earth, does that change how you might think about the idea of dying for liberty? Would it be worth it to you if you know for sure that you would die? Joe isn't so sure that people would choose to die for an idea if they really thought through what it would be like to actually die.
Quote #5
If a man says death before dishonor he is either a fool or a liar because he doesn't know what death is. (10.17)
Fair point. None of the living can claim to know what death is. But can Joe? Joe's in a weird position: he claims he knows what it means to be dead, and yet at the same time, he's jealous of the dead. Do you think he's convincing when he says that he's able to speak for the dead?
Quote #6
Did anybody ever come back from the dead any single one of the millions who got killed did any one of them every come back and say by god I'm glad I'm dead because death is always better than dishonor? (10.17)
Assuming that we've only got one chance at life, death represents the absolute and final loss of everything. Can an idea like dishonor really compete with that? Joe doesn't think so: he thinks that any dead person would come back and choose dishonor over death, if it came to that.