He instantly saw that it would be impossible for him to escape from the regiment. It enclosed him. And there were iron laws of custom and law on four sides. He was in a moving box.
As he realized this fact, he thought that he had never wished to come to the war. He had not joined the army by his own choice. He had been dragged by a merciless government. And now they were taking him out to be killed.
"You be careful, Henry, and take good care of yourself. Don’t think you can beat the whole rebel army at the start, because you can’t. You’re just one little fellow among a lot of others, and you have to keep quiet and do what they tell you. I know how you are, Henry."
Doğamızın iblisleri toplumdan uzak durmayı çoğunlukla sever; hiç kimse, kendine karşı, yalnız kişiden daha korunmasız değildir. Kişi nin kendini öylece toplumdan soyutlayabileceğini ve bir şekilde huzura yahut kemale erebileceğini ya da toplumdan kopabileceğini düşünmek bir hatadır. Çoğu zaman bunu yapmak uygunsuz, bencilce ve hatta korkakçadır. Kimi istisnalar dışında, toplumdan uzaklaşmanın yegane muteber biçimi geçici olanıdır.