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But time … how time first grounds us and then confounds…

“But time … how time first grounds us and then confounds us. We thought we were being mature when we were only being safe. We imagined we were being responsible but were only being cowardly. What we called realism turned out to be a way of avoiding things rather than facing them. Time … give us…” quote by Julian Barnes
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““But time … how time first grounds us and then confounds us. We thought we were being mature when we were only being safe. We imagined we were being responsible but were only being cowardly. What we called realism turned out to be a way of avoiding things rather than facing them. Time … give us enough time and our best-supported decisions will seem wobbly, our certainties whimsical.””

Julian Barnes

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Time reveals true motives, exposing pretenses and shifting certainties.

In simple terms: Time shows what’s real versus safe.

Key Takeaway

Question your assumptions over time.

Themes

time realism certainty

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • career planning
  • relationships
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does time change your view of decisions?
  • What does “realism” mean to you?
A Different Perspective

Time can also distort perception.

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