Patrick Slavin

“from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If”: If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same”
― Samantha Power, The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir

“(It was said that Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet foreign minister, spoke only four words of English: “Yes,” “No,” and “Second front.”) Moscow”
― Rick Atkinson, The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944

“Italian troops from the Assietta and Aosta Divisions surrendered by the thousands, grousing at German betrayal. “One never seemed to be able to do enough to please them,” an Italian POW explained.”
― Rick Atkinson, The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944

“The 608-day campaign to liberate Italy would cost 312,000 Allied casualties, equivalent to 40 percent of Allied losses in the decisive campaign for northwest Europe that began at Normandy. Among the three-quarters of a million American troops to serve in Italy, total battle casualties would reach 120,000, including 23,501 killed.”
― Rick Atkinson, The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944