--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an old story about the boy at…" description: "\"There is an old story about the boy at Eton who committed suicide. The other boys in his house were gathered together and asked if any of them could su..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/auberon-waugh-13554_boys_there-is-an-old-story-about-the-boy-at-e_345948.png" --- # There is an old story about the boy at Eton who committed… ![“There is an old story about the boy at Eton who committed suicide. The other boys in his house were gathered together and asked if any of them could suggest a reason for the tragedy. After a long silence a small boy in the front put up his hand: 'Could it have been the food, sir?” quote by Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/auberon-waugh-13554_boys_there-is-an-old-story-about-the-boy-at-e_345948.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/auberon-waugh-13554_boys_there-is-an-old-story-about-the-boy-at-e_345948.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/auberon-waugh-13554_boys_there-is-an-old-story-about-the-boy-at-e_345948.png) > “There is an old story about the boy at Eton who committed suicide. The other boys in his house were gathered together and asked if any of them could suggest a reason for the tragedy. After a long silence a small boy in the front put up his hand: 'Could it have been the food, sir?” [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tragic event prompts a superficial, absurd explanation, highlighting human tendency to seek simple causes for complex suffering. **In simple terms:** People often look for easy answers to deep pain. Key Takeaway Avoid oversimplifying tragedy. Themes humor tragedy human nature Mood ironic thoughtful Type satirical reflective When to use this quote - school settings - mental health discussions - storytelling - analysis Key Concepts absurdity social critique Questions to Reflect On - What deeper factors might be ignored? - How does humor affect our perception of tragedy? A Different Perspective The anecdote may obscure the seriousness of suicide and its causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Eton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eton/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Long silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-silence/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [The clash of religion. We've had to coexist for hundreds of years in Bulgaria, in the Balkans, and we still don't get along. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-penkov/the-clash-of-religion-we-ve-had-to-coexist-for-hundreds-of-years-in/) [Miroslav Penkov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-penkov/) > [An unemployed electrician,whom I had been taunting with my reminder of how much richer I was, leaned forward and said:'What are your qualifications? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/an-unemployed-electrician-whom-i-had-been-taunting-with-my-reminder/) [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) > [Free milk will be provided in Hoxton and Shoredith, in Eton and Harrow. What more social equality can you have than that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wilkinson/free-milk-will-be-provided-in-hoxton-and-shoredith-in-eton-and-harrow/) [Ellen Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wilkinson/) > [ My education \[takes place\] during the holidays from Eton. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osbert-sitwell/my-education-takes-place-during-the-holidays-from-eton/) [Osbert Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osbert-sitwell/) > [“It started off very underprivileged, but got more affluent.' Amis suddenly smiles to himself, remembering a moment with his father. 'I remember saying –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonella-gambotto-burke/it-started-off-very-underprivileged-but-got-more-affluent-amis/) [Antonella Gambotto-Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonella-gambotto-burke/) > [I went to prep school, Eton and Oxford. 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