"There is nothing magnanimous in bearing misfortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is looking on: men in such circumstances will act bravely even from motives of vanity: but he who, in the vale of obscurity, can brave adversity; who without friends to encourage, acquaintances to pity, or even without hope to alleviate his misfortunes, can behave with tranquility, and indifference, is truly great: whether peasant or courtier, he deserves admiration, and should be held up for imitation and respect."

Oliver Goldsmith erzählt die Lebensgeschichte eines Waisenkindes im Arbeitshaus und späteren Vagabunden, Plantagen-Strafarbeiter, Zwangsrekrutierten, Kriegsgefangenen, Flüchtling und Freibeuter-Besatzungsmitglied, dem bei einem Seegefecht das linke Bein von einer Kanonenkugel weggerissen wurde und der deshalb als Bettler in Matrosenuniform endete: "If I had the good fortune to have lost my leg and the use of my hand on board of a king's ship, and not aboard a privateer, I should have been entitled to clothing and maintenance during the rest of my life; but that was not my chance: one man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and another with a wooden ladle. However, Blessed be God, I enjoy good health, and will for ever love liberty and old England. Liberty, property, and Old England, for ever, huzza!"

Goldsmith war Ire. Er wurde 1728 geboren und starb 1774 nach dem Versuch, sein Fieber selbst zu kurieren.

Nachweis: Oliver Goldsmith, »The Disabled Soldier«, in: Roger B. Goodman (Hg.), 75 Short Masterpieces. Stories from the World's Literature, New York: Bantam Books, 1961, S. 97-101, hier: S. 97, 101.
The Disabled Soldier ist hier online bei bibliomania.com abrufbar.