I had supposed until that time that it was quite common for parents to love their children, but the war persuaded me that it is a rare exception. I had supposed that most people liked money better than almost anything else, but I discovered that they liked destruction even better. I had supposed that intellectuals frequently loved truth, but I found here again that not ten per cent of them prefer truth to popularity.

Summary

In this quote, the author reflects on their disillusionment during war. They express the belief that prior to experiencing war, they had assumed that parents universally loved their children, that money was highly valued by most people, and that intellectuals genuinely pursued truth. However, witnessing the destructiveness of war revealed a stark contrast to these assumptions. The author concludes that loving one's children, valuing truth over popularity, and prioritizing peace are actually rare exceptions among society, painting a disheartening portrait of human nature and priorities.

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