Croesus said to Cambyses; That peace was better than war; because in peace the sons did bury their fathers, but in wars the fathers did bury their sons

In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.

The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears.

No one would be foolish enough to choose war over peace--in peace sons bury their fathers, but in war fathers bury their sons.

Just that sons and fathers
Are like mirrors and daughters are soft

And William says, "I lost one son utterly."... ..."So I've held my tongue. But the truth is you didn't go to war. You went through the motions. But you turned it into graduate school. You contrived a comfortable place on the edge of the action to go study. You didn't even let the army decide your fate. You wangled your safe little job with a pre-enlistment deal and avoided the real thing. You told all the others who manned up, 'Better you do the dirty work, not me. Better your blood than mine.