I never thought anyone would pity me because of my time in the Marine Corps. Phil Klay corpsmarinepity Change image and share on social
There's a tradition in war writing that the veteran goes over and sees the truth of war and comes back. And I'm skeptical of that. Phil Klay backseeskeptical Change image and share on social
A great writer is a great writer... Tolstoy was not a woman, but 'Anna Karenina' is still a pretty good book. Phil Klay annabookgood Change image and share on social
I have friends with post-traumatic stress - friends with post-traumatic stress who are, you know, highly successful, capable people. Phil Klay capablefriendhighly Change image and share on social
War is an arena for the display of courage and virtue. Or war is politics by other means. War is a quasi-mystical experience where you get in touch with the real. There are millions of narratives we impose to try to make sense of war. Phil Klay arenacouragedisplay share on social
Prayer in a combat zone serves exactly the same purpose as it does in peacetime. In war, the stakes are life and death, true; but if you believe in God and in the notion of a human soul, then we are always making decisions of tremendous significance. Phil Klay combatdeathdecision share on social
When I tell stories about Iraq, the ones people react to are always the stories of violence. This is strange for me. Phil Klay iraqpeoplereact Change image and share on social
There's a tendency to look at anybody who joined the military as if they underwrote everything that happened policy-wise. That's not really the case. I have a friend who both protested the Iraq War and joined the military, and ended up serving two deployments in Afghanistan. Phil Klay afghanistancasedeployment share on social
I doubt there's anything you could say to Donald Rumsfeld that would puncture the armor of his narcissism. Phil Klay armordonalddoubt Change image and share on social
The civilian wants to respect what the veteran has gone through. The veteran wants to protect memories that are painful and sacred to him from outside judgment. Phil Klay civilianjudgmentmemory Change image and share on social
