Postcards from No Man's Land Courage Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"Have you had cause?"

"To be brave? Does bravery need a cause?"

"There can be none without." (12.40)

Now that's the question. Geertrui asks Jacob if he's ever even had reason to be brave, and it turns out he hasn't. She thinks that bravery comes out of a situation, not just a person.

Quote #8

"It's not that I don't believe in bravery or courage or those things. Just, I think most people are brave and courageous but in different ways and different—how do you say? gelegenheden—occasions." (14.143)

Hmm… now where have we heard this before? Hille echoes what Geertrui says about courage—she too thinks that anyone can be brave in the right circumstances. Do you agree? Or are some people just braver than others?

Quote #9

"Yes. Ordinary people's bravery. To me that's real bravery. But you don't get medals for it or monuments put up for it." (15.66)

Hille's already decided what she wants to happen to her if she gets in an accident or is on her deathbed. For such a youngster, she's got it all figured out—and too her, that's an act of courage. She thinks it's more about everyday life than huge moments of bravery in war and stuff.