"As a young man, every bone in my body wanted to pick up a machine gun and kill Germans. And yet I had absolutely no reason to do so. Certainly nobody invited me to do the job. But that's what I felt that I was trained to do. Now no part of my upbringing was militaristic"
- Pete Townshend
About this Quote
Pete Townshend's quote reflects the internal battle of a boy who was raised in a non-militaristic environment, yet felt a strong urge to pick up a gatling gun and battle in a war. Despite having no reason to do so, Townshend felt a strong sense of duty to combat, likely due to the impact of his training. This quote talks to the power of socialization and how it can form our beliefs and worths, even if they contrast our own upbringing. Townshend's quote likewise talks to the power of emotion and how it can drive us to do things that we may not have otherwise done. Eventually, Townshend's quote reflects the internal struggle of a boy who was torn between his own beliefs and worths and the worths of his society.
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