He ran as he'd never run before, with neither hope nor despair. He ran because the world was divided into opposites and his side had already been chosen for him, his only choice being whether or not to play his part with heart and courage. He ran because fate had placed him in a position of responsibility and he had accepted the burden. He ran because his self-respect required it. He ran because he loved his friends and this was the only thing he could do to end the madness that was killing and maiming them. Karl Marlantes
About This Quote

The great Greek tragedy in Shakespeare's Henry V is the story of the life-long friendship between two men, Falstaff and Prince Hal. The two become best friends when they are young, but their relationship turns sour when Falstaff finds employment in the court of Prince Hal. It is at this point in the play that Falstaff says to Hal, "You have laid your hungry bones upon a better bed than your age deserves." In other words, you have been given a better life than you deserve simply because you have been born to the right family. This is true for everyone from birth, but for Falstaff it is particularly true.

He has fallen into a position of privilege that he did not earn, a privilege he never deserved. When he says that Hal's youth is a "better bed," he means that Hal has been given the opportunity to live a life of greatness by being born into royalty.

Source: Matterhorn

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