--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If time and the passage of events are the…" description: "\"“If time and the passage of events are the same, then time moves barely at all. If time and events are not the same, then it is only people who barely ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/alan-lightman-2270_time_if-time-and-the-passage-of-events-are-th_2136507.png" --- # If time and the passage of events are the same, then time… ![“If time and the passage of events are the same, then time moves barely at all. If time and events are not the same, then it is only people who barely move. If a person holds no ambitions in this world, he suffers unknowingly. If a person holds ambitions, he suffers knowingly, but very slowly.” quote by Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/alan-lightman-2270_time_if-time-and-the-passage-of-events-are-th_2136507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/alan-lightman-2270_time_if-time-and-the-passage-of-events-are-th_2136507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/350/alan-lightman-2270_time_if-time-and-the-passage-of-events-are-th_2136507.png) > ““If time and the passage of events are the same, then time moves barely at all. If time and events are not the same, then it is only people who barely move. If a person holds no ambitions in this world, he suffers unknowingly. If a person holds ambitions, he suffers knowingly, but very slowly.”” [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage of time feels static unless linked to events; ambition creates slow, conscious suffering, while lack of ambition leads to unconscious suffering. **In simple terms:** Time feels still without events; ambition brings slow, aware pain. Key Takeaway Recognize how ambition shapes your experience of time. Themes time ambition perception uffering consciousness Mood reflective thoughtful melancholic Type philosophical existential motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - creative projects - life reflection - mindfulness Key Concepts philosophy existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your ambition affect your sense of time? - Can you find meaning without ambition? A Different Perspective Ambition may cause unnecessary suffering if not balanced with purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We confuse ourselves with space-time events, when in fact we are the ones who generate these space-time events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/we-confuse-ourselves-with-space-time-events-when-in-fact-we-are-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Most of the time our events aren't in the papers and they're not televised, so people don't know when we're competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/most-of-the-time-our-events-aren-t-in-the-papers-and-they-re-not/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [“(Some other passages in Psalms mentioning end-time events are: 9:5-15; 10:3-18; 11:1-7; 12:3-5; 21:8-12; 46:8-10; 47:1-4; 75:7-8; 76:7-9; 96:10-13; 97:1-6; 98:1-3; 99:1-5; and 110:1-6).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-church-of-god/some-other-passages-in-psalms-mentioning-end-time-events-are-9-5-15/) United Church of God > [Yet what is to be done with events that have no place of their own in time; events that have occurred too late, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/yet-what-is-to-be-done-with-events-that-have-no-place-of-their-own-in/) [Bruno Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-schulz/) > [I think women assess time passage much better than men - because of their biological clocks - and they are much more realistic about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/i-think-women-assess-time-passage-much-better-than-men-because-of/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [I have always been very obsessed with time. 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Writers don't see each other very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/writers-are-a-loosely-knit-community-community-is-an-overstated-word/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [Imagine a world in which there is no time. Only images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/imagine-a-world-in-which-there-is-no-time-only-images/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [Time is the clarity for seeing right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/time-is-the-clarity-for-seeing-right-and-wrong/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [In this world, time has three dimensions, like space. 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