--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mere dates of my existence do not…" description: "\"The mere dates of my existence do not interest me, except in one connection. When the Great War started I was too old to be acceptable as a volunteer; ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg" --- # The mere dates of my existence do not interest me, except… ![“The mere dates of my existence do not interest me, except in one connection. When the Great War started I was too old to be acceptable as a volunteer; when conscription followed I was too old to be conscripted.” quote by Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg) > “The mere dates of my existence do not interest me, except in one connection. When the Great War started I was too old to be acceptable as a volunteer; when conscription followed I was too old to be conscripted.” [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on aging, noting he was too old to volunteer or be conscripted during WWI, highlighting a sense of disconnection from the war. **In simple terms:** Too old for service, feels detached from war. Key Takeaway Acknowledge age limits and find purpose elsewhere. Themes age war identity Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - military service - civilian life - historical reflection Key Concepts historical context personal relevance Questions to Reflect On - How do age and societal expectations shape purpose? - What alternative roles can one pursue? A Different Perspective May overlook other ways to contribute. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Conscription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscription/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Great war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-war/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Volunteer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volunteer/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [What higher property do you have than your own person? I totally agree, by the way, with John Locke's idea that one's body is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/what-higher-property-do-you-have-than-your-own-person-i-totally-agree/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [ “Be ... suspicious ... of all those who employ the term 'we' or 'us' without your permission. This is \[a\] form of surreptitious conscription… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/be-suspicious-of-all-those-who-employ-the-term-we-or-us-without-your/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I regard the principle of conscription of life as a flat contradiction of all our cherished ideals of individual freedom, democratic liberty and Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-nash-baldwin/i-regard-the-principle-of-conscription-of-life-as-a-flat/) [Roger Nash Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-nash-baldwin/) > [Anarchism is grounded in a rather definite social-psychological hypothesis: that forceful, graceful and intelligent behaviour occurs only when there is an uncoerced and direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/anarchism-is-grounded-in-a-rather-definite-social-psychological/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [The worship of the nation has been able to make men tolerate under its authority what they could never have tolerated from princes: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-worship-of-the-nation-has-been-able-to-make-men-tolerate-under/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I am an opponent of war and of war preparations and an opponent of universal military training and conscription; but entirely apart from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/i-am-an-opponent-of-war-and-of-war-preparations-and-an-opponent-of/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [All these fifty-year-old guys wearing baseball caps and shorts and acting like children. It winds me up. Men don't have to take responsibility anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/all-these-fifty-year-old-guys-wearing-baseball-caps-and-shorts-and/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [“Universal peace-time conscription was adopted by almost all countries as the basis of their military system. This ensured that wars would grow bigger in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liddell-hart/universal-peace-time-conscription-was-adopted-by-almost-all-countries/) Liddell Hart > [Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/conscription-if-necessary-but-not-necessarily-conscription/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [Wicksell's old-fashioned liberalism is reminiscent of John Maynard Keynes' attitude toward conscription during World War I. Keynes opposed conscription, but he was not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mancur-olson/wicksell-s-old-fashioned-liberalism-is-reminiscent-of-john-maynard/) [Mancur Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mancur-olson/) > [If a country can't save itself through the volunteer service of its own free people, then I say : Let the damned thing go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/if-a-country-can-t-save-itself-through-the-volunteer-service-of-its/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Once conscription was introduced during the First World War, and once Britain's wars ceased being confined to the empire or to continental Europe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/once-conscription-was-introduced-during-the-first-world-war-and-once/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [“In 1870, came the victory of the short-service troops of Prussia over the long-service troops of France, where conscription had but recently been reintroduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart-2/in-1870-came-the-victory-of-the-short-service-troops-of-prussia-over/) [B.H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart-2/) > [“Beautiful ideals were painted for our boys who were sent out to die. The was the "war to end wars." This was the "war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/beautiful-ideals-were-painted-for-our-boys-who-were-sent-out-to-die/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) ## More by Laurence Housman > [I had never thought of myself as a dramatist, and, for really good technical results, the thought came too late: a man of letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/i-had-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-dramatist-and-for-really-good/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [I still think that if the human race, or even one nation, could only get right about its God the rest would follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/i-still-think-that-if-the-human-race-or-even-one-nation-could-only/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [The man who bears my name, and who claims to be me, was born on July 15, 1865, the sixth in a family of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/the-man-who-bears-my-name-and-who-claims-to-be-me-was-born-on-july-15/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [A saint is one who makes goodness attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/a-saint-is-one-who-makes-goodness-attractive/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [If I live for another ten years I shall probably have written all that I want to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/if-i-live-for-another-ten-years-i-shall-probably-have-written-all/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [It is right and natural that generous minds while in the twenties should think the books which try to reform the world's wrong the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/it-is-right-and-natural-that-generous-minds-while-in-the-twenties/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [Suicide is possible, but not probable; hanging, I trust, is even more unlikely; for I hope that, by the time I die, my countrymen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/suicide-is-possible-but-not-probable-hanging-i-trust-is-even-more/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [I have always been a writer of letters, and of long ones; so, when I first thought of writing a book in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/i-have-always-been-a-writer-of-letters-and-of-long-ones-so-when-i/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [I shall not die young, for I am already near seventy: I may die old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/i-shall-not-die-young-for-i-am-already-near-seventy-i-may-die-old/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [If I loved all the world as I do you, I shouldn't write books to it: I should only write letters to it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/if-i-loved-all-the-world-as-i-do-you-i-shouldn-t-write-books-to-it-i/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [Father eternal, ruler of creation, Spirit of life, which moved ere form was made Through the thick darkness covering every nation Light to man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/father-eternal-ruler-of-creation-spirit-of-life-which-moved-ere-form/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [It is the sincerest thing I have written, caught by the drama of a soul struggling in the contrary toils of love and religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/it-is-the-sincerest-thing-i-have-written-caught-by-the-drama-of-a/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [That was luck: I should not then have been a conscientious objector; but I am quite sure that the abominations of war would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/that-was-luck-i-should-not-then-have-been-a-conscientious-objector/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [It was then, I think, that I discovered that the best way of bringing a medieval subject home to my generation was not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/it-was-then-i-think-that-i-discovered-that-the-best-way-of-bringing-a/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [A saint is one who makes goodness attractive. Surely, a great teacher does the same thing for education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/a-saint-is-one-who-makes-goodness-attractive-surely-a-great-teacher/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) [Explore all 29 Laurence Housman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/) Harold Covington > [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/) Sally Struthers > [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mere dates of my existence do not interest me, except in one connection. When the Great War started I was too old to be acceptable as a volunteer; when conscription followed I was too old to be conscripted.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurence Housman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-interest-me-except-in-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-interest-me-except-in-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/laurence-housman-21576_acceptable_the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-in_2651361.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The mere dates of my existence do not interest me, except in one connection. When the Great War started I…” — Laurence Housman", "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": "Laurence Housman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The mere dates of my existence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-interest-me-except-in-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/the-mere-dates-of-my-existence-do-not-interest-me-except-in-one/#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 } } ] } ```