A reader nails a characteristic Orwell quote on what, in one of yesterday’s

posts, I called the “dirty work” of civilization:

“Derb—I saw you paraphrasing Orwell on the Corner and, while I can’t help

you with your Gore Vidal quest, I thought it’d be nice to pass on the Orwell

quote in full: ‘People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because

rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.’ It was the

introductory quote to an autobiography of a former Navy SEAL (“Warrior Soul”

by Chuck Pfarrer). If you’re into light and easy but gripping accounts of

military action, you might want to think about picking it up.”