Heroism

On the fields of Troy a fallen soldier pleaded with Achilles the Greek hero to save his life. According to Homer Achilles replied,

'Do you not see what a man I am, how huge, how splendid, and born of a great father, and the Mother who bore me immortal? But even I have also my death and strong destiny, and there shall be a dawn or an afternoon or noontide, when some man in the fighting will take the life from me also. Either with a spear cast or an arrow flown from the bow-string.'

With that, Achilles killed him.

Cited on In Our Time 'Heroism', First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9:00AM Thu, 6 May 2004