--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in the Air Force, if I walked…" description: "\"When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would show up and drag me out because someone had..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg" --- # When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a… ![“When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would show up and drag me out because someone had called saying that someone was impersonating an officer.” quote by Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg) > “When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would show up and drag me out because someone had called saying that someone was impersonating an officer.” [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In the Air Force, a mistaken identity led to police removal from a restaurant quickly. **In simple terms:** Mistaken identity caused swift police action. Key Takeaway Be aware of impersonation risks. Themes military identity law enforcement Mood ironic lighthearted Type personal reflective When to use this quote - memoir - humor Key Concepts personal anecdote social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does authority affect personal freedom? - What safeguards prevent impersonation? A Different Perspective The story may exaggerate for effect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-force/) [Restaurant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurant/) ## Related quotes > [“Today, 18 out of 45 customers entering a restaurant ask whether they can sit somewhere else. From that point on, their digital lives take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lindstrom/today-18-out-of-45-customers-entering-a-restaurant-ask-whether-they/) [Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lindstrom/) > [I've never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, 'We're full.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-ve-never-walked-into-a-restaurant-asked-for-a-table-and-been-told/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I graduated from college when I was 20. To get enough money to finish college, I went into the ROTC, and I was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-graduated-from-college-when-i-was-20-to-get-enough-money-to-finish/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [“Impersonating a quiet, gentle librarian like Barbara Gordon--You deserve to be taken out of circulation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kesel/impersonating-a-quiet-gentle-librarian-like-barbara-gordon-you/) Karl Kesel > [Being an English major prepares you for impersonating authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/being-an-english-major-prepares-you-for-impersonating-authority/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I sound like an Englishman impersonating an American impersonating an Englishman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-sound-like-an-englishman-impersonating-an-american-impersonating-an/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [My friends were the class clowns, but I was the one in class doing Michael Jordan or teachers for no reason. I've always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/my-friends-were-the-class-clowns-but-i-was-the-one-in-class-doing/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [I was impersonating people way, way, way early, as far back as I can remember. And I would do people on my street for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-was-impersonating-people-way-way-way-early-as-far-back-as-i-can/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Are you crying? No, I'm impersonating a fountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/are-you-crying-no-i-m-impersonating-a-fountain/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“I felt half the time I was impersonating a girl instead of really being one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-felt-half-the-time-i-was-impersonating-a-girl-instead-of-really/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [I'll buy half the wardrobe after 'The Impressions Show' has finished - I know it fits and looks good, because I'm impersonating people such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-stephenson/i-ll-buy-half-the-wardrobe-after-the-impressions-show-has-finished-i/) [Debra Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-stephenson/) > [I always enjoy impersonating my characters in the first-person singular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-always-enjoy-impersonating-my-characters-in-the-first-person/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Essentially, what QAnon was - what the Q poster was doing - was impersonating a federal agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrick-brennan/essentially-what-qanon-was-what-the-q-poster-was-doing-was/) [Fredrick Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrick-brennan/) > [Perhaps its inevitable, perhaps one has to choose between being nothing at all and impersonating what one is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/perhaps-its-inevitable-perhaps-one-has-to-choose-between-being/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I'm not impersonating anybody. I'm perfectly satisfied with what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-johansen/i-m-not-impersonating-anybody-i-m-perfectly-satisfied-with-what-i-am/) [David Johansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-johansen/) ## More by Melvin Van Peebles > [I went to a number of schools when I was a kid on the south side of Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-went-to-a-number-of-schools-when-i-was-a-kid-on-the-south-side-of/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Music or sound in a film is a character as important as another character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/music-or-sound-in-a-film-is-a-character-as-important-as-another/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I'm not a normal director. You can't look at me that way. What's kept me alive is my technical skill at doing other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-m-not-a-normal-director-you-can-t-look-at-me-that-way-what-s-kept/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Don't ask me something if you don't want to know. Because I will tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/don-t-ask-me-something-if-you-don-t-want-to-know-because-i-will-tell/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I was a trader for a company. That's different from the brokers who we sort of disdain as sort of just errand boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-was-a-trader-for-a-company-that-s-different-from-the-brokers-who-we/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I'm pretty much a loner. That's not good, bad, or indifferent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-m-pretty-much-a-loner-that-s-not-good-bad-or-indifferent/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [After 'Don't Play Us Cheap,' I got very busy with theater and Wall Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/after-don-t-play-us-cheap-i-got-very-busy-with-theater-and-wall-street/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [The studios didn't really take independent films seriously, till 'Sweetback' was such a financial success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/the-studios-didn-t-really-take-independent-films-seriously-till/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Over time, you accumulate a lot of life material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/over-time-you-accumulate-a-lot-of-life-material/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I intend to stay dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-intend-to-stay-dangerous/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Whitey is uptight about offending blacks without really knowing what offends blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/whitey-is-uptight-about-offending-blacks-without-really-knowing-what/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I said to my kids, 'Learn the business of America if you want to be an artist in America. The rest of that stuff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-said-to-my-kids-learn-the-business-of-america-if-you-want-to-be-an/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [If you give people something they want, they'll come and see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/if-you-give-people-something-they-want-they-ll-come-and-see-it/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-do-what-i-want-to-do/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Music - some people just don't know that part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/music-some-people-just-don-t-know-that-part-of-me/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) [Explore all 79 Melvin Van Peebles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [There was a little nook on Air Force Two that contained the vice presidential seal, and I would sort of wedge myself in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/there-was-a-little-nook-on-air-force-two-that-contained-the-vice/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) Browse all 6,278 Air quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would show up and drag me out because someone had called saying that someone was impersonating an officer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Melvin Van Peebles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked-into-a-restaurant-in-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Air" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked-into-a-restaurant-in-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/melvin-van-peebles-8573_air_when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked_2938584.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would…” — Melvin Van Peebles", "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": "Melvin Van Peebles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was in the Air...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked-into-a-restaurant-in-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked-into-a-restaurant-in-about/#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 } } ] } ```