"To have guilt you've got to earn guilt, but sometimes when you earn it, you don't feel the guilt you ought to have. And that's what The Firebombing is about"

This quote by James Dickey speaks to the concept that regret is something that should be made, and that when it is earned, it can be hard to feel the guilt that is should have. This is the main style of his work, The Firebombing. The Firebombing is a story about a guy who is battling with guilt after participating in a bombing mission throughout World War II. He is unable to come to terms with the guilt he feels for his actions, and the story explores the psychological effects of guilt and how it can be challenging to accept obligation for one's actions. The quote recommends that guilt is something that should be made, and that even when it is earned, it can be hard to feel the regret that is deserved.