Man can take his choice." The French were not compelled to stand in the flame that scorched Verdun.

They could have backed away and let the Germans through.

The Germans would not have killed them.

They would only have saddled them and got on their backs and ridden them till the end of time.
And so men are not compelled to face the scorching furnaces; we do not have to forge the iron that resists the invading cyclone and the leveling earthquake.

We could quit cold and let wild nature kick us about at will.