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About this quote

What does it mean?
Pepys admits that music and women take precedence over his business responsibilities.
In plain terms
He prioritizes pleasure and companionship over work.
What can you take from it?
Personal passions often override professional duties.

Where it applies

  • daily decision making
  • personal diaries
  • confessions

Putting it to work

  • identify personal priorities
  • reflect on choices

Questions to consider

  • What do you prioritize?
  • How do you balance duty and desire?

Another view

This admission shows a lack of professional discipline by modern standards.

More from Samuel Pepys

  1. To church in the morning, and there saw a wedding in the church, which I have not seen many a day; and the young people so merry one with another, and strange …

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  2. The truth is, I do indulge myself a little the more in pleasure, knowing that this is the proper age of my life to do it; and out of my observation that most m…

    Permalink to quote #12
  3. This day, much against my will, I did in Drury Lane see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors, and 'Lord have mercy upon us' writ there; w…

    Permalink to quote #9

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