--- 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/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.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,” quote by Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.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,”” [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 found entertainment in simple, face‑to‑face activities like reading, games, and social gatherings. **In simple terms:** People entertained themselves with basic, communal fun. Key Takeaway Value personal interaction over screens. Themes community simplicity entertainment nostalgia Mood reflective warm nostalgic Type observational cultural commentary When to use this quote - family gatherings - book clubs - outdoor games - friendship circles Key Concepts social bonding cultural practices media impact Questions to Reflect On - How would you entertain yourself without screens? - What benefits do face‑to‑face gatherings offer? A Different Perspective Modern media can enrich but also distract from deep personal connections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) ## Related quotes > [Storytelling and copulation are the two chief forms of amusement in the South. Theyre inexpensive and easy to procure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/storytelling-and-copulation-are-the-two-chief-forms-of-amusement-in/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [Storytelling and copulation are the two chief forms of amusement in the South. They’re inexpensive and easy to procure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/storytelling-and-copulation-are-the-two-chief-forms-of-amusement-in-2/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [Every child deserves a chance at a life filled with love, laughter, friends and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/every-child-deserves-a-chance-at-a-life-filled-with-love-laughter-2/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) > [Can you restrain your laughter, my friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/can-you-restrain-your-laughter-my-friends/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“We are who we choose to be, so we cannot change our past nor predict our future, but we can live each day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irma-schettini-caiazzo/we-are-who-we-choose-to-be-so-we-cannot-change-our-past-nor-predict/) Irma Schettini Caiazzo > [There is an intimate laughter to be found only among friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/there-is-an-intimate-laughter-to-be-found-only-among-friends/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [“A long, loud, and canorous peal of laughter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-quincey/a-long-loud-and-canorous-peal-of-laughter/) [Thomas de Quincey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-quincey/) > [Nothing's funnier to me than laughing at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/nothing-s-funnier-to-me-than-laughing-at-myself/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [Edgy is fine - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination - but what's wrong with a good ol' belly laugh?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/edgy-is-fine-i-m-not-a-prude-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-but/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [“Laughter sometimes hurts us, and sometimes it makes us feel better. No matter how down you feel... laughter brings a new ray of hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiko-tobe/laughter-sometimes-hurts-us-and-sometimes-it-makes-us-feel-better-no/) [Keiko Tobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiko-tobe/) > [Laughter is one of the great beacons in life because we don't refract it by gunning it through our intellectual prism. What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## 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 Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```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,”", "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/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-country-without-the-dubious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/gerald-durrell-9611_amusement_in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-co_989016.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/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/in-those-days-living-as-we-did-in-the-country-without-the-dubious/#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 } } ] } ```