The Red Badge of Courage

And they were men.

Within him, as he hurled himself forward, was born a love, a despairing fondness for this flag which was near him.

New eyes were given to him. And the most startling thing was to learn suddenly that he was very insignificant

He had slept and, awakening, found himself a knight

They were worn, exhausted, having slept but little and labored much

They were weak mortals. As for himself, he had fled with discretion and dignity.

As he who had so befriended him was thus passing out of his life, it suddenly occurred to the youth that he had not once seen his face.

that he was despicable, he could not exist without making it, through his actions, apparent to all men

He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage.

It seemed that Nature could not be quite ready to kill him