---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I was too restless to watch long; I'm…"
description: "\"But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four ho..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg"
---

#  But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental…

![“But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg)

> “But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

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

Restlessness hinders patience; long waiting feels foreign, yet sustained focus is needed for deep problems.

**In simple terms:** Restlessness opposes patience.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate patience for complex tasks.

Themes

patience restlessness focus

Mood

thoughtful motivational

Type

psychological self‑help

When to use this quote

- research
- creative writing
- skill mastery

Key Concepts

mindfulness time management

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you manage impatience?
- What strategies help you stay engaged over time?

A Different Perspective

Patience may be uncomfortable and slow progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Vigil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-vigil-1961652/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Restless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless/) [Restless Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless-watch-1961653/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Vigil Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vigil-work-1961655/) [Wait Inactive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-inactive-1961654/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Watch Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch-long-912449/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/)

## Related quotes

> [Who needs the young and the restless, when we can watch drama on Facebook anytime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-loveable/who-needs-the-young-and-the-restless-when-we-can-watch-drama-on/)

[Arjun Loveable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-loveable/)

> [The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world. In this long vigil he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/the-dignity-of-the-artist-lies-in-his-duty-of-keeping-awake-the-sense-2/)

[Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/)

> [“What’re those blacks doing across the street walking around the courthouse in the dark?” “It’s called a vigil,” explained Harry Rex. “They’ve vowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/what-re-those-blacks-doing-across-the-street-walking-around-the/)

[John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/)

> [You can freak yourself out with 'EastEnders'; think about how many people watch it, how long it's been going, it's iconic. But since I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emer-kenny/you-can-freak-yourself-out-with-eastenders-think-about-how-many/)

[Emer Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emer-kenny/)

> [If you watch me for a long time, you'll really understand and appreciate the way I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/if-you-watch-me-for-a-long-time-you-ll-really-understand-and/)

[Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/)

> [“You don't have to chase around after creatures, Pismire had said. You watch them for long enough, and then you'll find the place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-don-t-have-to-chase-around-after-creatures-pismire-had-said-you/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [It's going to be fun to watch and see how long the meek can keep the earth once they inherit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/it-s-going-to-be-fun-to-watch-and-see-how-long-the-meek-can-keep-the/)

[Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/)

> [Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherised upon a table; Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-go-then-you-and-i-when-the-evening-is-spread-out-against-the-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being tan is nice and all but I don't have the patience to lay out. I get restless after 10 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-tan-is-nice-and-all-but-i-don-t-have-the-patience-to-lay-out-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter into the desert of our loneliness and to change it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-live-a-spiritual-life-we-must-first-find-the-courage-to-enter-into/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You get a strange feeling when youre about to leave a place. Like youll not only miss the people you love but youll miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-get-a-strange-feeling-when-youre-about-to-leave-a-place-like/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> […You see, my dear friend, I am made up of contradictions, and I have reached a very mature age without resting upon anything positive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-see-my-dear-friend-i-am-made-up-of-contradictions-and-i-have/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“There are some so restless that when they are free from labour they labour all the more, because the leisure they they have for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-some-so-restless-that-when-they-are-free-from-labour-they/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/much-activity-gives-you-restless-dreams-too-many-words-make-you-a-fool/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Success flourishes only in perseverance ceaseless, restless perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-flourishes-only-in-perseverance-ceaseless-restless/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Four quotes

> [With young kids (I have four including the newborn) times passes weirdly for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-kemp/with-young-kids-i-have-four-including-the-newborn-times-passes/)

[Paul S. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-s-kemp/)

> [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/)

[Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/)

> [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/)

[Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/)

> [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/)

[Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/)

> [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/)

[Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/)

[Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/)

[Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/)

> [I'd love to have three or four kids. But my mom always says: "Speak to me after you have your first".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/i-d-love-to-have-three-or-four-kids-but-my-mom-always-says-speak-to/)

[Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/)

> [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/when-we-read-a-story-we-inhabit-it-the-covers-of-the-book-are-like-a/)

[John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/)

> [Right now I'm doing four shows at a time, trying to read four outlines every week, four scripts every week, and watching four rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-spelling/right-now-i-m-doing-four-shows-at-a-time-trying-to-read-four-outlines/)

[Aaron Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-spelling/)

[Browse all 7,977 Four quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m-too-occidental-for-a-long/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Four"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m-too-occidental-for-a-long/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/anonymous-1_four_but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m_982636.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for…” — Anonymous",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But I was too restless to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m-too-occidental-for-a-long/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-was-too-restless-to-watch-long-i-m-too-occidental-for-a-long/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
