"And like the old soldier in that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the sight to see that duty"
- Douglas MacArthur
About this Quote
This quote by Douglas MacArthur is a reflection on his military profession and his retirement. He compares himself to an old soldier in a ballad, recommending that he is now at the end of his career and is ready to "vanish". He acknowledges that he has actually done his best to meet his duty as a soldier, which he has done so according to his own understanding of what his responsibility was. He implies that he has actually done his best to serve his country and to do what he thought was right. He is now ready to carry on and to let his military career come to an end. This quote is a testament to his devotion and commitment to his responsibility as a soldier, and to his willingness to accept completion of his profession with grace and self-respect.
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