--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a young soldier when war broke out…" description: "\"I was a young soldier when war broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea.\" — Abiy Ahmed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/abiy-ahmed-30624_between_i-was-a-young-soldier-when-war-broke-out_1812275.jpg" --- # I was a young soldier when war broke out between Ethiopia… ![“I was a young soldier when war broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea.” quote by Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/abiy-ahmed-30624_between_i-was-a-young-soldier-when-war-broke-out_1812275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/abiy-ahmed-30624_between_i-was-a-young-soldier-when-war-broke-out_1812275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/abiy-ahmed-30624_between_i-was-a-young-soldier-when-war-broke-out_1812275.jpg) > “I was a young soldier when war broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea.” [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A soldier reflects on personal experience of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, emphasizing the human cost of conflict. **In simple terms:** He fought in the Ethiopia‑Eritrea war. Key Takeaway Consider the personal toll of war. Themes war personal narrative conflict Mood somber reflective Type historical personal When to use this quote - peace negotiations - veteran support - historical analysis Key Concepts human cost nationalism military service Questions to Reflect On - How do personal war stories shape public perception? - What steps can foster reconciliation? A Different Perspective War narratives may overlook broader political causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eritrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eritrea/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I tend to prefer traveling in the Third World countries. Like Ethiopia. Or Eritrea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-tend-to-prefer-traveling-in-the-third-world-countries-like-ethiopia/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I believed peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea was within reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/i-believed-peace-between-ethiopia-and-eritrea-was-within-reach/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [World War I broke out largely because of an arms race, and World War II because of the lack of an arms race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/world-war-i-broke-out-largely-because-of-an-arms-race-and-world-war/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [“My name is Alem Kelo. I live with the Fitzgeralds, my foster family, at 202 Meanly Road, Manor Park, London. I have also lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/my-name-is-alem-kelo-i-live-with-the-fitzgeralds-my-foster-family-at/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [You can't equate the game we play to a war. Kellen Winslow said he's a soldier. No, he's not. This is not a war...not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-rosenthal/you-can-t-equate-the-game-we-play-to-a-war-kellen-winslow-said-he-s-a/) [Ken Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-rosenthal/) > [I'm a foot soldier in the war on Christmas. And the war on puppies and sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/i-m-a-foot-soldier-in-the-war-on-christmas-and-the-war-on-puppies-and/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [“I'm a soldier in war, and the only difference between our war and the ones between humans is that this fight has been going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/i-m-a-soldier-in-war-and-the-only-difference-between-our-war-and-the/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [“According to Robert, his friend Moses was a soldier in the first war, as he described it. He fought Indians and soldiers in red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-b-brewer/according-to-robert-his-friend-moses-was-a-soldier-in-the-first-war/) [Nancy B. Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-b-brewer/) > [“I want you to think of me as a soldier,’ she persists. ‘A soldier in this war who’s doing what needs to be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-want-you-to-think-of-me-as-a-soldier-she-persists-a-soldier-in-this/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Remember how the first world war broke out. It broke out as a result of the desire to redivide the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/remember-how-the-first-world-war-broke-out-it-broke-out-as-a-result/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [I mean, I was born the day war broke out, but I don't remember all the bombs though they did actually break up Liverpool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-mean-i-was-born-the-day-war-broke-out-but-i-don-t-remember-all-the/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [Fortunately, just when things were blackest, the war broke out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/fortunately-just-when-things-were-blackest-the-war-broke-out/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [And when the war broke out, its real horrors, its real dangers, its menace of real death were a blessing compared with the inhuman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/and-when-the-war-broke-out-its-real-horrors-its-real-dangers-its/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [The great war that broke so suddenly upon the world two years ago, and which has swept up within its flame so great a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-great-war-that-broke-so-suddenly-upon-the-world-two-years-ago-and/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The World War broke out with such elemental violence, and with such resort to all means for leading or misleading public opinion, that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-branting/the-world-war-broke-out-with-such-elemental-violence-and-with-such/) [Hjalmar Branting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-branting/) ## More by Abiy Ahmed > [War is the epitome of hell for all involved. I know because I have been there and back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/war-is-the-epitome-of-hell-for-all-involved-i-know-because-i-have/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Well, peace is a very expensive commodity in my country, as well as in my region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/well-peace-is-a-very-expensive-commodity-in-my-country-as-well-as-in/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [And if you can change Addis, definitely you can change Ethiopia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/and-if-you-can-change-addis-definitely-you-can-change-ethiopia/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Ethiopia has made steady progress in the provision of health services over the past two decades. But nothing has prepared us for threats posed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/ethiopia-has-made-steady-progress-in-the-provision-of-health-services/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [I have done so many great things compared to many leaders. But I didn't do 1 per cent of what I am dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/i-have-done-so-many-great-things-compared-to-many-leaders-but-i-didn/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Negative peace is possible as long as you have a strong army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/negative-peace-is-possible-as-long-as-you-have-a-strong-army/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Covid-19 teaches us that we are all global citizens connected by a single virus that recognises none of our natural or man-made diversity: not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/covid-19-teaches-us-that-we-are-all-global-citizens-connected-by-a/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Working hard on peace process is a very good thing for yourself, for your region, for your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/working-hard-on-peace-process-is-a-very-good-thing-for-yourself-for/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [I believed peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea was within reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/i-believed-peace-between-ethiopia-and-eritrea-was-within-reach/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Health is a worldwide public good. It requires global action guided by a sense of global solidarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/health-is-a-worldwide-public-good-it-requires-global-action-guided-by/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Well the message I have for everyone working on peace, is that bringing results on peace can be easily entrained passively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/well-the-message-i-have-for-everyone-working-on-peace-is-that/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [If you give me $100bn now, I can't use it. There is not only money, there is talent and experience. That's why we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/if-you-give-me-100bn-now-i-can-t-use-it-there-is-not-only-money-there/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [It takes a few to make war, but it takes a village and a nation to build peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/it-takes-a-few-to-make-war-but-it-takes-a-village-and-a-nation-to/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Many Ethiopians see yesterday. I see tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/many-ethiopians-see-yesterday-i-see-tomorrow/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) > [Our lifestyle is deeply communal, with extended families traditionally sharing the burdens and bounties of life together, eating meals from the same plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiy-ahmed/our-lifestyle-is-deeply-communal-with-extended-families-traditionally/) [Abiy Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) [Explore all 17 Abiy Ahmed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiy-ahmed/) ## More Between quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [There may be little practical difference between a Ford Mondeo and a BMW three series, but in terms of perceptions of who you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/there-may-be-little-practical-difference-between-a-ford-mondeo-and-a/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I really think there's no difference between an art piece made by a man and one made by a woman. Is it a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-really-think-there-s-no-difference-between-an-art-piece-made-by-a/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Close contact between science and the practice of collective farms and State farms creates inexhaustible opportunities for the development of theoretical knowledge, enabling us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trofim-lysenko/close-contact-between-science-and-the-practice-of-collective-farms/) [Trofim Lysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trofim-lysenko/) > [There's a difference between watching a film and watching a bit of cinema and enjoying a film as a piece of cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/there-s-a-difference-between-watching-a-film-and-watching-a-bit-of/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [I don't differentiate between acting on TV and in films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-don-t-differentiate-between-acting-on-tv-and-in-films/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) > [I was in Vietnam, and I was exposed to Agent Orange. 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