The phrase "What the war did to dreamers" encapsulates a profound and heartbreaking reality that many face during times of conflict. Dreamers, those who hold hopes, ideals, and aspirations often enamored with peace, progress, and beauty, find their visions shattered in the throes of war. War is a force that not only damages landscapes and takes lives but also profoundly alters the inner world of individuals. It derails futures and corrupts innocence, leaving scars that are invisible yet indelible.

In the context of Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See, a novel set during World War II, this quote resonates deeply. The novel beautifully explores the lives of characters whose dreams and innocence are caught in the brutal tides of history. War intrudes on their daily existence, dreams contort under the weight of survival, and ideals are tested by harsh realities. The phrase compels us to reflect on the cost of war beyond the battlefield. It's a reminder that those we consider dreamers—artists, children, thinkers, and ordinary people—bear a silent, profound cost, as their dreams either are put on hold or are irrevocably changed.

Through this lens, the quote invokes sympathy and a somber reflection on the ethical and human impact of conflict. It challenges readers to see beyond the strategic or political narratives of war and understand its deeply personal toll. Importantly, it also embodies a universal truth relevant to all wars: the shattering of dreams is one of the most tragic consequences of human conflict, and its echoes persist long after the last shot is fired.