--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In those days, living as we did in the…" description: "\"“In those days, living as we did in the country, without the dubious benefits of radio or television, we had to rely on such primitive forms of amuseme..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png" --- # In those days, living as we did in the country, without… ![“In those days, living as we did in the country, without the dubious benefits of radio or television, we had to rely on such primitive forms of amusement as books, quarrelling, parties, and the laughter of our friends, so naturally parties—particularly the more flamboyant ones—became red-letter…” quote by Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png) > ““In those days, living as we did in the country, without the dubious benefits of radio or television, we had to rely on such primitive forms of amusement as books, quarrelling, parties, and the laughter of our friends, so naturally parties—particularly the more flamboyant ones—became red-letter days, preceded by endless preparations. Even when they were successfully over, they provided days of delightfully acrimonious argument as to how they could have been better managed.”” [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Before modern media, people relied on simple, social activities for entertainment, making gatherings especially significant. **In simple terms:** Simple social fun was key before TV and radio. Key Takeaway Value simple gatherings. Themes community tradition entertainment Mood reflective nostalgic Type observational literary When to use this quote - family reunions - rural festivals - book clubs Key Concepts social anthropology nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - What simple activities could replace screen time? - How do you create memorable gatherings? A Different Perspective Modern media can dominate attention, reducing face‑to‑face interaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-man/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Days Preceded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-preceded-2676191/) [Letter Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letter-days-854326/) [Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parties/) [Parties Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parties-particularly-5419026/) [Quarrelling Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarrelling-parties-5419027/) [Red Letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-letter-854325/) ## Related quotes > [The red-letter days, now become, to all intents and purposes, dead-letter days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/the-red-letter-days-now-become-to-all-intents-and-purposes-dead/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“That was it. She came out of it. She never had such a down as that or such an up as the three days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/that-was-it-she-came-out-of-it-she-never-had-such-a-down-as-that-or/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [Every moment red-letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aladdin/every-moment-red-letter/) [Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aladdin/) > [“Oh, it was 1775.” “What?” “1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill.” “Oh.” I laughed. “We learned about it the day we met,” he added.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-richards/oh-it-was-1775-what-1775-the-battle-of-bunker-hill-oh-i-laughed-we/) [J.M. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-richards/) > [He’s playing every bit as hard as I am, only he knows what he’s doing and I don’t. Don’t blame me because he’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-s-playing-every-bit-as-hard-as-i-am-only-he-knows-what-he-s-doing/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I'm better than your next man and if you're swingin' like you're dumber than the next man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-better-than-your-next-man-and-if-you-re-swingin-like-you-re/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-shall-state-silences-more-competently-than-ever-a-better-man/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“I've had recurring nightmares that I was loved for who I am...and missed the opportunity to be a better man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muse/i-ve-had-recurring-nightmares-that-i-was-loved-for-who-i-am-and/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muse/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“The knuckles of his hand that had Shaw's name inked across them caught my eye. I pointed to them. "You have her with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/the-knuckles-of-his-hand-that-had-shaw-s-name-inked-across-them/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [“I think so. You’re saying that God’s putting me through this fire so He can make me a better man.” “Yes. The problem is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-h-westall/i-think-so-you-re-saying-that-god-s-putting-me-through-this-fire-so/) [Jennifer H. Westall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-h-westall/) > [I should've been a better man instead of wasting my time spending my life searching for the finer things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-should-ve-been-a-better-man-instead-of-wasting-my-time-spending-my/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl..I swear I'll be a better man :-/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-a-boy-i-think-i-could-understand-how-it-feels-to-love-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gerald Durrell > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [ Gradually the magic of the island \[Corfu\] settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/gradually-the-magic-of-the-island-corfu-settled-over-us-as-gently-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [They were maps that lived, maps that one could study, frown over, and add to; maps, in short, that really meant something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/they-were-maps-that-lived-maps-that-one-could-study-frown-over-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“It's all your fault, Mother,' said Larry austerely; 'you shouldn't have brought us up to be so selfish.' 'I like that!' exclaimed Mother. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/it-s-all-your-fault-mother-said-larry-austerely-you-shouldn-t-have/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [As I watched the pulsing fire among the trees and heard the beat of the drum merge and tremble with the voices, forming an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/as-i-watched-the-pulsing-fire-among-the-trees-and-heard-the-beat-of/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Each day had a tranquility a timelessness about it so that you wished it would never end. But then the dark skin of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/each-day-had-a-tranquility-a-timelessness-about-it-so-that-you-wished/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for. 'What is it?' asked Larry at length. 'It's a bathing costume, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/we-stared-at-the-odd-garment-and-wondered-what-it-was-for-what-is-it/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“Lying spread-eagled in the silky water, gazing into the sky, only moving my hands and feet slightly to keep afloat, I was looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/lying-spread-eagled-in-the-silky-water-gazing-into-the-sky-only/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“Larry was always full of ideas about things of which he had no experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/larry-was-always-full-of-ideas-about-things-of-which-he-had-no/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“No sooner were they drowsing pleasantly than the Magenpies would start the food call, one doing the hiccoughs while the other did the piping.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/no-sooner-were-they-drowsing-pleasantly-than-the-magenpies-would/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“The noise of drinking was exhilarating. Champagne corks popped and the pale, chrysanthemum-coloured liquid, whispering gleefully with bubbles, hissed into the glasses; heavy red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/the-noise-of-drinking-was-exhilarating-champagne-corks-popped-and-the/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [My childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/my-childhood-in-corfu-shaped-my-life-if-i-had-the-craft-of-merlin-i/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [The great ecosystems are like complex tapestries - a million complicated threads, interwoven, make up the whole picture. Nature can cope with small rents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/the-great-ecosystems-are-like-complex-tapestries-a-million/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [There is no first world and third world. There is only one world, for all of us to live and delight in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/there-is-no-first-world-and-third-world-there-is-only-one-world-for/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Until we consider animal life to be worthy of the consideration and reverence we bestow upon old books and pictures and historic monuments, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/until-we-consider-animal-life-to-be-worthy-of-the-consideration-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) [Explore all 67 Gerald Durrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## More Better man quotes > [If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl..I swear I'll be a better man :-/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-a-boy-i-think-i-could-understand-how-it-feels-to-love-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I should've been a better man instead of wasting my time spending my life searching for the finer things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-should-ve-been-a-better-man-instead-of-wasting-my-time-spending-my/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [“I think so. You’re saying that God’s putting me through this fire so He can make me a better man.” “Yes. The problem is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-h-westall/i-think-so-you-re-saying-that-god-s-putting-me-through-this-fire-so/) [Jennifer H. Westall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-h-westall/) > [“The knuckles of his hand that had Shaw's name inked across them caught my eye. I pointed to them. "You have her with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/the-knuckles-of-his-hand-that-had-shaw-s-name-inked-across-them/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I've had recurring nightmares that I was loved for who I am...and missed the opportunity to be a better man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muse/i-ve-had-recurring-nightmares-that-i-was-loved-for-who-i-am-and/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muse/) > [I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-shall-state-silences-more-competently-than-ever-a-better-man/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I'm better than your next man and if you're swingin' like you're dumber than the next man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-better-than-your-next-man-and-if-you-re-swingin-like-you-re/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [He’s playing every bit as hard as I am, only he knows what he’s doing and I don’t. Don’t blame me because he’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-s-playing-every-bit-as-hard-as-i-am-only-he-knows-what-he-s-doing/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“Gentlemen, Admiral Lord Nelson wrote, of the officers aft on the quarterdeck and the seamen of the fo’c’sle: ‘Aft the most honour—forward the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-stockwin/gentlemen-admiral-lord-nelson-wrote-of-the-officers-aft-on-the/) [Julian Stockwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-stockwin/) > [“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-should-not-copy-the-bad-simply/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Any thought that you are better or less Than another man Quickly Breaks the wine Glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ladinsky/any-thought-that-you-are-better-or-less-than-another-man-quickly/) [Daniel Ladinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ladinsky/) > [Remember 'beauty is in GODS EYES' YOU ALL ARE BEAUTIFUL, but only you control your health, I'm not perfect but I'm striving to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-beauty-is-in-gods-eyes-you-all-are-beautiful-but-only-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 390 Better man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In those days, living as we did in the country, without the dubious benefits of radio or television, we had to rely on such primitive forms of amusement as books, quarrelling, parties, and the laughter of our friends, so naturally parties—particularly the more flamboyant ones—became red-letter days, preceded by endless preparations. Even when they were successfully over, they provided days of delightfully acrimonious argument as to how they could have been better managed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald Durrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-country-without-the-dubious-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-country-without-the-dubious-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/gerald-durrell-9611_better-man_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_2297124.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In those days, living as we did in the country, without the dubious benefits of radio or television, we had…” — Gerald Durrell", "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": "Gerald Durrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In those days, living as we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-country-without-the-dubious-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-country-without-the-dubious-2/#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 } } ] } ```