All Quiet on the Western Front Post 3

In this next section of AQWF Paul Baumer talks about the differences between the liberty and respect for their country they teach in schools and the love you feel for your country out on the battlefield. He quotes this by saying, "While they continued to write and talk, we saw the wounded and the dying. While they taught that duty to one's country is the greatest thing, we already new that death-throes are stronger." This quote really shows that learning about one's respect and love for his/her country is very very different than actually having to go into action and be the one who is respected for defending one's country because of his/her love for the country. So overall the message I think Paul is really trying to get across to the reader is, is that in order to really know or feel something you have to experience it first hand, you cant be taught pride and suffering and sacrifice from a teacher you have to experience it on your own in order to really know what its like to win a battle when your outnumbered 10:1, to lose eight of your best friends in a battle, to have nothing to eat for days on end except the bugs and mice that inhabit your trench. I am really excited to keep reading this book because its not just one of those stories that has constant action, little plot, and weak character development; this book really goes into the lives and hearts of soldiers that fought for their lives and their country and it has taught me to really appreciate the things I have and respect the men and women that have laid down their lives for the lives of others.