--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not five minutes to midnight. It's…" description: "\"It's not five minutes to midnight. It's five minutes after midnight.\" — Angela Merkel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/angela-merkel-2231_climate-change_it-s-not-five-minutes-to-midnight-it-s-f_1023107.png" --- # It's not five minutes to midnight. It's five minutes after… ![“It's not five minutes to midnight. It's five minutes after midnight.” quote by Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/angela-merkel-2231_climate-change_it-s-not-five-minutes-to-midnight-it-s-f_1023107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/angela-merkel-2231_climate-change_it-s-not-five-minutes-to-midnight-it-s-f_1023107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/angela-merkel-2231_climate-change_it-s-not-five-minutes-to-midnight-it-s-f_1023107.png) > “It's not five minutes to midnight. It's five minutes after midnight.” [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is already past the critical point; urgency is now. **In simple terms:** The deadline has passed; act immediately. Key Takeaway Act now, no more delay. Themes urgency decision-making politics Mood alert determined Type motivational political When to use this quote - policy implementation - emergency response - personal deadlines Key Concepts time management crisis response Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing urgency change your priorities? - What actions can you take right now? A Different Perspective If the situation is not critical, the urgency may be overstated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-minutes/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Midnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midnight/) [Midnight Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midnight-minutes-2293984/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Minutes Midnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes-midnight-1071947/) ## Related quotes > [Turn it up! It's five minutes to midnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boys-like-girls/turn-it-up-it-s-five-minutes-to-midnight/) [Boys Like Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boys-like-girls/) > [“...And began typing. We will not be meeting in my bedroom. Jack and I will meet you at your condo at midnight. Two minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/and-began-typing-we-will-not-be-meeting-in-my-bedroom-jack-and-i-will/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“He said it would come down at exactly twenty-three minutes after midnight, and it did. A day is twenty-four hours. Twenty-three minutes after midnight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-chercover/he-said-it-would-come-down-at-exactly-twenty-three-minutes-after/) [Sean Chercover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-chercover/) > [Alright, at five minutes to midnight. We'll see our name in city lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boys-like-girls/alright-at-five-minutes-to-midnight-we-ll-see-our-name-in-city-lights/) [Boys Like Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boys-like-girls/) > [“It was 7 minutes after midnight. The dog was lying on the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs. Shears's house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/it-was-7-minutes-after-midnight-the-dog-was-lying-on-the-grass-in-the/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [“Some might question why the Midnight Mayor, usually to be found on such nights prowling the streets of the city, was sighted sneaking into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-griffin/some-might-question-why-the-midnight-mayor-usually-to-be-found-on/) [Kate Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-griffin/) > [I didn't really want to be an actor when I was growing up - I wanted to be whatever I was reading about or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-sudeikis/i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-an-actor-when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to/) [Jason Sudeikis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-sudeikis/) > [The problem with movies and books is they make evil look glamorous, exciting, when it's no such thing. 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There are some shows where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/like-i-said-a-sketch-is-one-joke-they-shouldn-t-really-be-more-than-a/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) ## More by Angela Merkel > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't believe you are simply born with the ambition of becoming chancellor. But if you want to make a difference, if you enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/i-don-t-believe-you-are-simply-born-with-the-ambition-of-becoming/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Freedom is the very essence of our economy and society. Without freedom the human mind is prevented from unleashing its creative force. But what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/freedom-is-the-very-essence-of-our-economy-and-society-without/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We're saying this to both countries: We want a two-state solution. We want a Jewish state of Israel and alongside a independent Palestinian state.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/we-re-saying-this-to-both-countries-we-want-a-two-state-solution-we/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [From a German point of view, German-American and European-American relations are a pillar of our foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/from-a-german-point-of-view-german-american-and-european-american/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-g7-and-former-g8-group-has-always-viewed-itself-as-a-community-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Particularly from a German perspective, from a European perspective, I can only say again, Russia is our neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/particularly-from-a-german-perspective-from-a-european-perspective-i/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [The real problem is that the financial base for our social security system is shrinking because the number of normal jobs is falling. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-real-problem-is-that-the-financial-base-for-our-social-security/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I'm very grateful that Barack Obama as president very much put protection of privacy on the agenda today, due to the fact of Islamist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/i-m-very-grateful-that-barack-obama-as-president-very-much-put/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/so-europe-needs-to-be-competitive-and-we-also-need-to-be-competitive/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [That is why everyone in politics, and we do it, must make sure that they do not depend on one single interest group. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/that-is-why-everyone-in-politics-and-we-do-it-must-make-sure-that/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Just look at Poland, a sort of European perspective this has. So we have an interest in seeing this relationship be a good one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/just-look-at-poland-a-sort-of-european-perspective-this-has-so-we/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [The campaign in the media takes place in many different formats, such as in citizens forums or town - hall shows. And because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-campaign-in-the-media-takes-place-in-many-different-formats-such/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I am courageous at the decisive moment. But I need a good deal of start-up time, and I try to take as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/i-am-courageous-at-the-decisive-moment-but-i-need-a-good-deal-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [If I run a time-limited test program, I'll never discover whether markets with additional employment truly exist. A solution in the low-wage sector cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/if-i-run-a-time-limited-test-program-i-ll-never-discover-whether/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) [Explore all 178 Angela Merkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) ## More Climate change quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I do not underestimate the difficulty of the challenge that global climate change presents to us. It will take a significant effort and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-pena/i-do-not-underestimate-the-difficulty-of-the-challenge-that-global/) [Federico Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-pena/) > [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [George H.W. Bush said we will lead on climate change, and we'll lead from the top. That was 30 years ago. And now Republicans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bullock/george-h-w-bush-said-we-will-lead-on-climate-change-and-we-ll-lead/) [Steve Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bullock/) > [Climate change is not an excuse to give the federal government ever more power over private property and state resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/climate-change-is-not-an-excuse-to-give-the-federal-government-ever/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [21st-century foreign policy is going to be built on countries that can tackle transnational challenges together. Climate change and public health are the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/21st-century-foreign-policy-is-going-to-be-built-on-countries-that/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [You'd be forgiven for thinking that climate change means we'll have to sacrifice our creature comforts. 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