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Polly was a writer of many deadlines. There were the…

“Polly was a writer of many deadlines. There were the ignorable deadlines, the not-to-be-taken-too-seriously deadlines: the deadlines-before-the-deadlines deadlines, and finally, the no-kidding-around deadlines. She set these various dates, she'd told him, to fool herself.” quote by Martha Grimes
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““Polly was a writer of many deadlines. There were the ignorable deadlines, the not-to-be-taken-too-seriously deadlines: the deadlines-before-the-deadlines deadlines, and finally, the no-kidding-around deadlines. She set these various dates, she'd told him, to fool herself.””

Martha Grimes

About This Quote

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

The writer uses absurdly layered deadlines to mock her own procrastination and self‑deception.

In simple terms: She creates fake deadlines to avoid real work.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and avoid self‑sabotaging schedules.

Themes

procrastination self‑deception humor

Mood

wry thoughtful

Type

satirical insightful

When to use this quote

  • setting realistic goals
  • avoiding over‑complicated planning
  • identifying false urgency

Key Concepts

psychology of deadlines self‑management

Questions to Reflect On

  • What real deadlines truly matter?
  • How can you simplify your schedule?
A Different Perspective

Complex deadlines can increase stress without productivity.

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