Clock Quote by Alan Wilson Watts
““A particularly significant example of brain against body, or measures against matter, is urban man’s total slavery to clocks. A clock is a convenient device for arranging to meet a friend, or for helping people to do things together, although things of this kind happened long before they were invented. Clocks should not be smashed; they should simply be kept in their place. And they are very much out of place when we try to adapt our biological rhythms of eating, sleeping, evacuation, working, and relaxing to their uniform circular rotation. Our slavery to these mechanical drill masters has gone so far and our whole culture is so involved with it that reform is a forlorn hope; without them civilization would collapse entirely. A less brainy culture would learn to synchronize its body rhythms rather than its clocks.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Book of Life, Alan Watts, 1975
Human schedules dominate natural rhythms, causing cultural dependence on clocks that disrupts biology.
In simple terms: Clocks control life, misaligning bodies.
Key Takeaway
Re‑align daily habits with natural cycles.
Themes
time
culture
biology
technology
rhythm
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- work schedules
- sleep patterns
- meal times
- exercise routines
- social gatherings
Key Concepts
chronobiology
social critique
modernity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance clock time with body time?
- What small changes can restore natural rhythms?
A Different Perspective
Clocks are essential for coordination, so total abandonment is impractical.
