Passini, one of the Italian ambulance drivers, is against the war. He speaks out against it to Frederick because he believes that there "is nothing as bad as war." Passini notes that, because he is an ambulance driver, he can't understand the horror of it the way the troops in the field can, but that once they realize how bad it is, they go crazy.

Passini also states that when war drives people crazy they can't do anything to stop it. In addition, some people never realize how bad war is and some are too afraid of their officers to speak out against the war. These groups perpetuate war. Therefore, it is up to Passini to speak out. It's important to note that he can't speak out too openly or his family will suffer and lose government protections as a result. His goal is to convert Frederick to the idea that war is a mistake.

When Frederick argues that the war must be fought to a finish, Passini says that wars never really finish. There is always another battle and another. He states:

War is not won by victory

The only way, he says, to stop it is for the Italians to stop fighting. Without any one to fight, the Austrians would get tired and go home. For Passini, there is no logic to war. When Frederick comments that people fight wars for profit, Passini disputes that and argues that people only fight wars out of stupidity.

Passini represents the ordinary man who thinks, reads, and understands the reality of any war's futility: he can see through all the propaganda and rationalizations. He knows his power to change anything is very limited, but nevertheless he speaks out because he wants to convert Frederick to his point of view.