The origins of the pion exchange model of nuclear forces are described and the exchange process is reinterpreted in the light of current views on the quark-gluon structure of nucleons. It is suggested that the reinterpretation might provide a picture of cohesive nuclear forces that is more intellectually satisfying than that produced by the traditional approach. It is argued that it might be time to review the way we present the exchange particle concept at pre-university level. (Contains 10 figures and 3 resources.)