Colon has always thought that heroes had some special kind of clockwork that made them go out and die famously for god, country and apple pie, or whatever particular delicacy their mother made. It had never occurred to him that they might do it because they'd get yelled at if they didn't.

Summary

This quote explores the concept of heroism and how it is often romanticized. The speaker, Colon, believed that heroes were driven by an innate sense of purpose and were willing to sacrifice themselves for noble causes. However, he realizes that some heroes may actually act out of fear or social pressure rather than a genuine desire to make a difference. The quote highlights the disillusionment Colon experiences as he realizes that heroism can have different motivations and doesn't necessarily stem from a selfless and heroic nature.

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