This quote vividly captures the unpredictable and often disturbing nature of human conflict and the complexities within the human psyche. Battles, whether physical or metaphorical, are arenas where the extraordinary and the unsettling unfold. The phrase "odd things happen" hints at the chaos and unexpected turn of events that can arise when combatants collide, revealing aspects of human nature that are sometimes hard to comprehend. It suggests that beneath the surface of organized warfare lies a tumult of emotions, motives, and reactions that defy logic and expectation. The mention of the human heart having "strange and gruesome depths" underscores the darker facets of human emotion, including cruelty, fear, anger, and obsession, which often surface in moments of high stakes and intense stress. These depths are not only disturbing but also strangely fascinating, exposing facets of ourselves that we would prefer to hide. Conversely, the human brain's "stranger shallows" implies that our reasoning faculties are even more peculiar, capable of rationalizing heinous acts or, alternatively, retreating into numbness or denial when overwhelmed. This duality—of emotional depth and intellectual shallowness—speaks to the fragile and complex nature of human identity, especially when pushed to its limits in conflict. Understanding this duality can promote empathy, reminding us that actions in the heat of battle are often driven by deeper, convoluted human truths. The quote effectively encapsulates the profound and sometimes grotesque intricacies of what it means to be human amid chaos and violence, revealing that both our deepest fears and our most bewildering thoughts coexist within us in moments of crisis.