Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He waved his flask around for a moment, then shrugged. ‘They change back.

People love to see death. It reminds them that however mean, however low, however horrible their lives become… at least they have one.

Only it’s just the same. In fact, do you know, because of all that pressure, and worry, and fear, it’s worse. There aren’t many men who think clearest when the stakes are highest. So people are even stupider in a war than the rest of the time. Thinking about how they’ll dodge the blame, or grab the glory, or save their skins, rather than about what will actually work There’s no job that forgives stupidity more than soldiering. No job that encourages it more.

Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He waved his flask around for a moment, then shrugged. ‘They change back.

Names turned over by time, like the plough turning the soil. Bringing up the new while the old were buried in the mud.

Have a smile for breakfast, you'll be shitting joy by lunch.

Travel brings wisdom only to the wise. It renders the ignorant more ignorant than ever.