--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to ask which war---the Boer or…" description: "\"“I wanted to ask which war---the Boer or the Crimean? It was amazing how old people could talk about The War, as though that meant something.”\" — John ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/john-christopher-15764_generation-gap_i-wanted-to-ask-which-war-the-boer-or-th_2057845.jpg" --- # I wanted to ask which war---the Boer or the Crimean? It… ![“I wanted to ask which war---the Boer or the Crimean? It was amazing how old people could talk about The War, as though that meant something.” quote by John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/john-christopher-15764_generation-gap_i-wanted-to-ask-which-war-the-boer-or-th_2057845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/john-christopher-15764_generation-gap_i-wanted-to-ask-which-war-the-boer-or-th_2057845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/john-christopher-15764_generation-gap_i-wanted-to-ask-which-war-the-boer-or-th_2057845.jpg) > ““I wanted to ask which war---the Boer or the Crimean? It was amazing how old people could talk about The War, as though that meant something.”” [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discusses how historical wars become abstract, losing personal relevance over time. **In simple terms:** War stories can feel distant and detached. Key Takeaway Seek personal connection to history. Themes history memory war Mood thoughtful nostalgic Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - education - family storytelling - media consumption Key Concepts collective memory historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - Why do we romanticize past conflicts? - How can we keep war memories vivid? A Different Perspective Historical narratives can oversimplify complex events. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generation gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-gap/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [When you talk to people who have been in combat, there's a sensory overload that happens. The color becomes vivid. 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You can't blame… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-really-wanted-to-talk-about-the-war-on-terror-and-say-that-both/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [I do not want to talk about the war, because I cannot change history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-do-not-want-to-talk-about-the-war-because-i-cannot-change-history/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I simply can't imagine the world will ever be normal again for us. I do talk about "after the war," but it's as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/i-simply-can-t-imagine-the-world-will-ever-be-normal-again-for-us-i/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Very often when we talk about war, conflict or terrorism, we talk about it very politically. We forget that there are people involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasika-dugal/very-often-when-we-talk-about-war-conflict-or-terrorism-we-talk-about/) [Rasika Dugal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasika-dugal/) > [We all have--to put it as nicely as I can--our lower centres and our higher centres. Our lower centres act: they act with terriblepower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/we-all-have-to-put-it-as-nicely-as-i-can-our-lower-centres-and-our/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [How dare the smooth talkers, the clever official blabbers, open their mouths and boast of progress. . . . Here they hold jubilant peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-nordau/how-dare-the-smooth-talkers-the-clever-official-blabbers-open-their/) [Max Nordau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-nordau/) > [“Jamie didn't talk to me about the war. Most men don't, who've seen real combat. It's the ones who spent their tours well behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/jamie-didn-t-talk-to-me-about-the-war-most-men-don-t-who-ve-seen-real/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [Our problem with Israel is that its leaders always talk about war and security but never about peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saad-hariri/our-problem-with-israel-is-that-its-leaders-always-talk-about-war-and/) [Saad Hariri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saad-hariri/) > [I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-just-want-you-to-know-that-when-we-talk-about-war-we-re-really/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“It’s hard to hear over the racket of gunfire. Politicians want to talk about war, but the people want to talk about peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-hard-to-hear-over-the-racket-of-gunfire-politicians-want-to-talk/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Peace talk when war is impending is hazardous for the talker, and in war time it is criminal. War talk in peace time, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clayton-morrison/peace-talk-when-war-is-impending-is-hazardous-for-the-talker-and-in/) Charles Clayton Morrison > [ “I said, 'I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing.' Ah!' said \[Captain\], 'I should think they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/i-said-i-have-heard-people-talk-about-war-as-if-it-was-a-very-fine/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) ## More by John Christopher > [“If one is seeking reasons for disloyalty, it is useful to find something one can resent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/if-one-is-seeking-reasons-for-disloyalty-it-is-useful-to-find/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“He was sometimes stern but more often kindly---just according to his lights, but he saw the world in simple shades of black and white,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/he-was-sometimes-stern-but-more-often-kindly-just-according-to-his/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“Having achieved what I thought was an ultimate ambition, I found, as I think is often the case, that there remained something more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/having-achieved-what-i-thought-was-an-ultimate-ambition-i-found-as-i/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“...nothing was of value, without a mind that challenged and inquired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/nothing-was-of-value-without-a-mind-that-challenged-and-inquired/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“What I was suddenly aware of was the importance of their being whatever each of them was--cocky and contemptuous, or bothered and beaten--as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/what-i-was-suddenly-aware-of-was-the-importance-of-their-being/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“In the realm of dream and imagination all men are equal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/in-the-realm-of-dream-and-imagination-all-men-are-equal/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [As Pa said, censorship encouraged people to believe nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/as-pa-said-censorship-encouraged-people-to-believe-nonsense/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [There is always something to lose. But maybe more to gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/there-is-always-something-to-lose-but-maybe-more-to-gain/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“People may be persuaded that the machine is doing good. In fact, good is only capable of being done on a small scale. Evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/people-may-be-persuaded-that-the-machine-is-doing-good-in-fact-good/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“A general does not use the same troops over and over again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/a-general-does-not-use-the-same-troops-over-and-over-again/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“It is hard to be defensive toward a danger which you have never imagined existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/it-is-hard-to-be-defensive-toward-a-danger-which-you-have-never/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [You would always beat me; not so much because you are a better fighter as because you will not accept defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/you-would-always-beat-me-not-so-much-because-you-are-a-better-fighter/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [“A man faced death, but when death drew back forgot it until the next time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/a-man-faced-death-but-when-death-drew-back-forgot-it-until-the-next/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [We all have to learn to live with our losses, and to use our regrets to spur us on in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/we-all-have-to-learn-to-live-with-our-losses-and-to-use-our-regrets/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) > [What tricks the mind is what the mind is glad to be tricked by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christopher/what-tricks-the-mind-is-what-the-mind-is-glad-to-be-tricked-by/) [John Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) [Explore all 42 John Christopher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christopher/) ## More Generation gap quotes > [“The young man pities his elders, fearing the day he, too, will join their ranks. The elderly man pities the younger generation, well-knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-i-fisher/the-young-man-pities-his-elders-fearing-the-day-he-too-will-join/) [Lynda I Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-i-fisher/) > [Its difficult to keep your self relax and happy, If some body to whom you love the most on Earth, has lost his confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha/its-difficult-to-keep-your-self-relax-and-happy-if-some-body-to-whom/) [Ayesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha/) > [When my father is happy with my music, I know I have done something good, and there is no question of generation gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himesh-reshammiya/when-my-father-is-happy-with-my-music-i-know-i-have-done-something/) [Himesh Reshammiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himesh-reshammiya/) > [I really have a generation gap about modern clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-harris/i-really-have-a-generation-gap-about-modern-clothes/) [Julie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-harris/) > [I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/i-see-no-hope-for-the-future-of-our-people-if-they-are-dependent-on/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [All we have is the knowledge passed on to us by our elders, experiences we inculcate and hardly negate. But to bridge the generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-bendre/all-we-have-is-the-knowledge-passed-on-to-us-by-our-elders/) [Sonali Bendre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-bendre/) > [The generation gaps are becoming more and more extreme. It used to be a generation gap would be 20-plus years. Now, because technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-kultgen/the-generation-gaps-are-becoming-more-and-more-extreme-it-used-to-be/) [Chad Kultgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-kultgen/) > [ “We realized that the version of the world \[our parents\] rendered for us was not the world they really believed in, and that for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/we-realized-that-the-version-of-the-world-our-parents-rendered-for-us/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I think there's a gigantic generation gap in terms of how people understand the Internet and how much they think technology is an important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/i-think-there-s-a-gigantic-generation-gap-in-terms-of-how-people/) [Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/) > [Only God Forgives was very much a generation gap in a way. It was all the youth of the world that embraced it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/only-god-forgives-was-very-much-a-generation-gap-in-a-way-it-was-all/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [But I think its the generation gap which is speaking because he wants his father to change but he can not do that himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/but-i-think-its-the-generation-gap-which-is-speaking-because-he-wants/) Mak\_786 > [“In the 1950s kids lost their innocence. They were liberated from their parents by well-paying jobs, cars, and lyrics in music that gave rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-the-1950s-kids-lost-their-innocence-they-were-liberated-from-their/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [The lessons of the past are ignored and obliterated in a contemporary antagonism known as the generation gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/the-lessons-of-the-past-are-ignored-and-obliterated-in-a-contemporary/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [The most significant social pathology of my youth was the generation gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-most-significant-social-pathology-of-my-youth-was-the-generation/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“Grandma sees these things when she talks about them and gestures with her hands like she's painting brush strokes in the air. The way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-w-durrow/grandma-sees-these-things-when-she-talks-about-them-and-gestures-with/) [Heidi W. Durrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-w-durrow/) [Browse all 40 Generation gap quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-gap/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I wanted to ask which war---the Boer or the Crimean? 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