Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Constant hurry leaves little time for deep conversation, leading to a shallow, monotonous life that later feels wasted.
In plain terms
Being always busy makes life feel shallow and wasted.
What can you take from it?
Make space for meaningful dialogue to avoid later regret.

Where it applies

  • busy work
  • social gatherings

Putting it to work

  • schedule talk breaks
  • practice active listening

Questions to consider

  • How much talk is enough?
  • What can replace depth in a hurried life?

Another view

Some people thrive on fast‑paced environments and may not feel the same loss.

More from Robert M. Pirsig

  1. The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for the truth,' and so it goes away. Puzzling.

    Permalink to quote #5
  2. I would like not to cut any new channels of consciousness but simply dig deeper into old ones that have become silted in with the debris of thoughts grown stal…

    Permalink to quote #7
  3. You see things vacationing on a motorcycle in a way that is completely different from any other. In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're us…

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. Walk with me world, upon my right hand walk, speak to me Babel, that I may strive to assemble of all these syllables a single word before the purpose of speech…

    Conrad AikenConrad Aiken quote #1
  2. I strive to discover how to signal my companions before I die, how to give them a hand, how to spell out for them in time one complete word at least, to tell t…

    Nikos KazantzakisNikos Kazantzakis quote #22
  3. You mean now?

    Yogi BerraYogi Berra quote #1