--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And then, for an old man like me, it's…" description: "\"And then, for an old man like me, it's not exactly right,This kind o' playing soldier with no enemy in sight.\" — Bret Harte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/bret-harte-16965_enemy_and-then-for-an-old-man-like-me-it-s-not_2244146.jpg" --- # And then, for an old man like me, it's not exactly… ![“And then, for an old man like me, it's not exactly right,This kind o' playing soldier with no enemy in sight.” quote by Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/bret-harte-16965_enemy_and-then-for-an-old-man-like-me-it-s-not_2244146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/bret-harte-16965_enemy_and-then-for-an-old-man-like-me-it-s-not_2244146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/bret-harte-16965_enemy_and-then-for-an-old-man-like-me-it-s-not_2244146.jpg) > “And then, for an old man like me, it's not exactly right,This kind o' playing soldier with no enemy in sight.” [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An aging person feels misplaced when forced into a role without a real opponent, highlighting absurdity of pointless conflict. **In simple terms:** Old man feels out of place in a futile role. Key Takeaway Recognize when a task lacks purpose. Themes age identity conflict absurdity Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - military drills - office politics - social rituals - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism role theory Questions to Reflect On - Is the conflict truly meaningless? - What purpose could be found in the role? A Different Perspective May overlook hidden benefits of the activity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-sight-5100097/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Like me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-me/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Playing Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-soldier-1095803/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-enemy-1337058/) ## Related quotes > [In 'Falling Skies,' I was playing a soldier and a fighter, and then, when I was taken captive, you're still in this post-apocalyptic world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/in-falling-skies-i-was-playing-a-soldier-and-a-fighter-and-then-when/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [On 'The Messenger,' just imagining playing the part of a soldier in that movie was kind of hard for me. 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I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/perhaps-there-is-no-gift-of-nature-that-requires-as-little-exertion/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Howbeit, though no scholar, I am not one of those who misuse the English speech, and, being foolishly led by the hasty custom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/howbeit-though-no-scholar-i-am-not-one-of-those-who-misuse-the/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [“Tommy, you're a good little man, but you can't gamble worth a cent. Don't try it over again.' 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The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. 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