Men, skilled in a trade, seldom enter the army or navy, but even they, after a military experience, find themselves totally unfitted for their former occupations. Having acquired habits of idleness and a taste for excitement and adventure, no peaceful pursuit can content them.
 Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays (1910). copy citation

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Author Emma Goldman
Source Anarchism and Other Essays
Topic excitement idleness
Date 1910
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2162/2162-h/2162-h.htm

Context

“The growth of the standing army inevitably adds to the spread of sex perversion; the barracks are the incubators. Aside from the sexual effects of barrack life, it also tends to unfit the soldier for useful labor after leaving the army. Men, skilled in a trade, seldom enter the army or navy, but even they, after a military experience, find themselves totally unfitted for their former occupations. Having acquired habits of idleness and a taste for excitement and adventure, no peaceful pursuit can content them. Released from the army, they can turn to no useful work. But it is usually the social riff-raff, discharged prisoners and the like, whom either the struggle for life or their own inclination drives into the ranks.” source