" Ideally, how would you like to regard the war, then ?’

‘I would like to see it as an incident.’

‘Only an incident?’

‘A very important one; perhaps the most important that has ever occurred. But, still, an incident. Is the real nature of the world changed by it ? No. Will it decide, ultimately the major issues of existence ? No. Will it rescue us spiritually? Still no. Will it set us free in the crudest sense, that is, merely to be allowed to breathe and eat ? I hope so! But I can t be sure that it will. In no essential way is it crucial - if you accept my meaning of essential. Suppose I had a complete vision of life. I would not then be affected essentially. The war can destroy me physically. That it can do. But so can bacteria. I must be concerned with them naturally. I must take account of them. They can obliterate me. But, as long as I am alive, I must follow my destiny in spite of them. "

― Saul Bellow