--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good thing this was, and that we should…" description: "\"“A good thing this was, and that we should be so care-free and irresponsible, enjoying every minute of every day; for it was the Easter of 1914, the la..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png" --- # A good thing this was, and that we should be so care-free… ![“A good thing this was, and that we should be so care-free and irresponsible, enjoying every minute of every day; for it was the Easter of 1914, the last Easter of the old, easy world, and our last, as well as our first, Easter as children together in the little house I had built for happiness.” quote by Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png) > ““A good thing this was, and that we should be so care-free and irresponsible, enjoying every minute of every day; for it was the Easter of 1914, the last Easter of the old, easy world, and our last, as well as our first, Easter as children together in the little house I had built for happiness.”” [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fleeting moment of carefree joy is treasured as a rare, almost sacred time before the world changes. **In simple terms:** Cherish brief, happy times before they end. Key Takeaway Savor the present while it lasts. Themes nostalgia joy war childhood ephemerality Mood bitanchored bittersweet Type reflective nostalgic When to use this quote - family gatherings - pre‑war evenings - personal reflection Key Concepts Utopian longing war nostalgia memory Questions to Reflect On - What simple pleasure can you cherish now? - How does remembering past joy affect current resilience? A Different Perspective Loss of innocence looms beyond the moment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1914 Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1914-easter-5952207/) [Day Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-easter-3569401/) [Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter/) [Easter 1914](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter-1914-5952206/) [Easter Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter-old-4139784/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Every Minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-minute/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [World Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-easter-5952208/) ## Related quotes > [Hundreds of barefoot Filipinos marched on the roads through the Philippines carrying heavy wooden crosses and whipping their backs until they bled to prepare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/hundreds-of-barefoot-filipinos-marched-on-the-roads-through-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Warm and sincere wishes to you and your family on the glorious day of Easter. May the risen Christ visit you and your families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/warm-and-sincere-wishes-to-you-and-your-family-on-the-glorious-day-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May Lord bless you on this auspicious day of Easter, and may it be a new beginning of greater prosperity, success and happiness. Wishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-lord-bless-you-on-this-auspicious-day-of-easter-and-may-it-be-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May Lord bless you on this auspicious day of Easter, and May it be a new beginning of greater prosperity, success and happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-lord-bless-you-on-this-auspicious-day-of-easter-and-may-it-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What happened on that day (of Easter) became, was and remained the centre around which everything else moves. For everything lasts its time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/what-happened-on-that-day-of-easter-became-was-and-remained-the/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Owe money at Easter and Lent will seem short to thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/owe-money-at-easter-and-lent-will-seem-short-to-thee/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [“Sunday, kept as a commemoration of Easter ever since that event itself (a quite remarkable phenomenon when you come to think about it), is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/sunday-kept-as-a-commemoration-of-easter-ever-since-that-event-itself/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [May the angels protect u may the sadness forget u may goodness surround u and may Allah always bless u Happy Easter!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-the-angels-protect-u-may-the-sadness-forget-u-may-goodness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My Easter outfit though (=](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-easter-outfit-though/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Easter blessings All life’s sacrifices like autumn leaves awaken our senses and power to love and be whole Our Mother Earth, Our Father Sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/easter-blessings-all-life-s-sacrifices-like-autumn-leaves-awaken-our/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [We live and die; Christ died and lived!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-and-die-christ-died-and-lived/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“In East Sussex, let us say, an old farm sleeps in sun-dapple, its oast-house with its cowls echoing the distant steeple of SS Andrew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-w-wemyss/in-east-sussex-let-us-say-an-old-farm-sleeps-in-sun-dapple-its-oast/) [G.M.W. Wemyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-w-wemyss/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) ## More by Elizabeth von Arnim > [“I would have all couples neatly paired in years, the forties with the forties, and the twenties with the twenties. Should the forties, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/i-would-have-all-couples-neatly-paired-in-years-the-forties-with-the/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“When I drive to the lupins and see them all spread out as far as eye can reach in perfect beauty of colour and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/when-i-drive-to-the-lupins-and-see-them-all-spread-out-as-far-as-eye/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [What a blessing it is to love books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/what-a-blessing-it-is-to-love-books/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [It is beautiful, beautiful to give; one of the very most beautiful things in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/it-is-beautiful-beautiful-to-give-one-of-the-very-most-beautiful/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“I asked nothing better of life. I still ask nothing better of life. Strange to say—for surely it is strange not to have increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/i-asked-nothing-better-of-life-i-still-ask-nothing-better-of-life/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“No one ever said aloud any of the kinds of things he was so constantly thinking, because no one in the parish, not Alice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/no-one-ever-said-aloud-any-of-the-kinds-of-things-he-was-so/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“The only thing to do with one's old sorrows is to tuck them up neatly in their shroud and turn one's face away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/the-only-thing-to-do-with-one-s-old-sorrows-is-to-tuck-them-up-neatly/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“She belongs to the winter that is past, to the darkness that is over, and has no part or lot in the life I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-belongs-to-the-winter-that-is-past-to-the-darkness-that-is-over/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“This radiant weather, when mere living is a joy, and sitting still over the fire out of the question, has been going on for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/this-radiant-weather-when-mere-living-is-a-joy-and-sitting-still-over/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“And when I'm with you," she said, "I feel as if I were stuffed with—oh, with stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/and-when-i-m-with-you-she-said-i-feel-as-if-i-were-stuffed-with-oh/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“Here was the world wide-awake and yet only for me, all the fresh pure air only for me, all the fragrance breathed only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/here-was-the-world-wide-awake-and-yet-only-for-me-all-the-fresh-pure/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“... and everybody will have what they never yet have had, a certain amount of that priceless boon, leisure-- leisure to sit down and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/and-everybody-will-have-what-they-never-yet-have-had-a-certain-amount/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [Beauty made you love, and love made you beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/beauty-made-you-love-and-love-made-you-beautiful/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“Surely the colour of London was an exquisite thing. It was like a pearl that late afternoon, something very gentle and pale, with faint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/surely-the-colour-of-london-was-an-exquisite-thing-it-was-like-a/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) [Explore all 155 Elizabeth von Arnim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) ## More Easter quotes > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) > [“In East Sussex, let us say, an old farm sleeps in sun-dapple, its oast-house with its cowls echoing the distant steeple of SS Andrew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-w-wemyss/in-east-sussex-let-us-say-an-old-farm-sleeps-in-sun-dapple-its-oast/) [G.M.W. Wemyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-w-wemyss/) > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [We live and die; Christ died and lived!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-and-die-christ-died-and-lived/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Easter blessings All life’s sacrifices like autumn leaves awaken our senses and power to love and be whole Our Mother Earth, Our Father Sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/easter-blessings-all-life-s-sacrifices-like-autumn-leaves-awaken-our/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [My Easter outfit though (=](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-easter-outfit-though/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May the angels protect u may the sadness forget u may goodness surround u and may Allah always bless u Happy Easter!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-the-angels-protect-u-may-the-sadness-forget-u-may-goodness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Sunday, kept as a commemoration of Easter ever since that event itself (a quite remarkable phenomenon when you come to think about it), is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/sunday-kept-as-a-commemoration-of-easter-ever-since-that-event-itself/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Owe money at Easter and Lent will seem short to thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/owe-money-at-easter-and-lent-will-seem-short-to-thee/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [God blesses all those who believe in him. May the light of faith in God grow each day. Have a blessed Easter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-blesses-all-those-who-believe-in-him-may-the-light-of-faith-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a sense of them being Easter religions, for some reason. Christianity, of course, is a mystery religion, too, and I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-sense-of-them-being-easter-religions-for-some-reason/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [Rejoice and be glad, for the promise of Jesus Christ has been fulfilled. Our Savior has risen from the dead. Happy Easter to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rejoice-and-be-glad-for-the-promise-of-jesus-christ-has-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May Easter happiness dwell in you, This holiday season all the way through. May you be blessed with peace and joy, And your family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-easter-happiness-dwell-in-you-this-holiday-season-all-the-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand Christmas, and I understand Easter. But Halloween is one of those things where, if you don't grow with it? The French, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-torres/i-understand-christmas-and-i-understand-easter-but-halloween-is-one/) [Jacques Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-torres/) [Browse all 698 Easter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A good thing this was, and that we should be so care-free and irresponsible, enjoying every minute of every day; for it was the Easter of 1914, the last Easter of the old, easy world, and our last, as well as our first, Easter as children together in the little house I had built for happiness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth von Arnim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should-be-so-care-free-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should-be-so-care-free-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_easter_a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should_769730.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A good thing this was, and that we should be so care-free and irresponsible, enjoying every minute of every…” — Elizabeth von Arnim", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elizabeth von Arnim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A good thing this was, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should-be-so-care-free-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/a-good-thing-this-was-and-that-we-should-be-so-care-free-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```