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About this quote

What does it mean?
Email suits those managing tasks; deep work needs focus without interruption.
In plain terms
Email helps busy people but blocks those needing focus.
What can you take from it?
Protect your time for deep work.

Where it applies

  • office work
  • creative work
  • study

Putting it to work

  • limit email checks
  • schedule focus blocks
  • choose role wisely

Questions to consider

  • How do you manage distractions?
  • What is your work style?

Another view

Email is still necessary for communication.

More from Donald Knuth

  1. I can't go to a restaurant and order food because I keep looking at the fonts on the menu.

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  2. An algorithm must be seen to be believed.

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  3. I define UNIX as 30 definitions of regular expressions living under one roof.

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