--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of life is routine - dull and…" description: "\"Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png" --- # Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is… ![“Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” quote by Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png) > “Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Routine provides steady progress while inspiration is fleeting; relying solely on inspiration delays action. **In simple terms:** Routine drives progress; inspiration is occasional. Key Takeaway Embrace routine, seek inspiration wisely. Themes discipline motivation productivity Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career development - creative projects - daily planning - overcoming procrastination Key Concepts habit formation psychology of work Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize routine over inspiration? - How can you balance steady work with creative bursts? A Different Perspective Inspiration alone cannot replace consistent effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bicycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Momentum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/momentum/) [Parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parade/) [Routine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/routine/) ## Related quotes > [If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-standing-on-the-corner-after/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [Like a bicycle, like a wheel that, once rolling, is stable only so long as it keeps moving but falls when its momentum stops,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/like-a-bicycle-like-a-wheel-that-once-rolling-is-stable-only-so-long/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [In Japan, I live in a little neighborhood in the middle of nowhere. I don't have a bicycle or a car or anything, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/in-japan-i-live-in-a-little-neighborhood-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-i/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“It will cost something to walk slowly in the parade of the ages while excited men of time rush about confusing motion with progress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-k-walters/it-will-cost-something-to-walk-slowly-in-the-parade-of-the-ages-while/) [Wendy K. Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-k-walters/) > [“A procession is a participants' journey, while a parade is a performance with an audience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/a-procession-is-a-participants-journey-while-a-parade-is-a/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“They parade for us In zoos - in portraits Of every generation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-george/they-parade-for-us-in-zoos-in-portraits-of-every-generation/) [Abigail George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-george/) > [The Republicans could mess up a two car parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-republicans-could-mess-up-a-two-car-parade/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [When life rains on your parade, bring out the Slip'n'Slide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-rains-on-your-parade-bring-out-the-slip-n-slide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[The main road was\] now teeming with people carrying torches, pitchforks, and rakes, and one very confused man who apparently had mistaken the mob… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuthbert-soup/the-main-road-was-now-teeming-with-people-carrying-torches-pitchforks/) [Cuthbert Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuthbert-soup/) > [ It was when Boston invited us to do a parade one November, and I was the only \[Star Wars\] cast member skeptical of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/it-was-when-boston-invited-us-to-do-a-parade-one-november-and-i-was/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [Worst. Parade. Ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-parade-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The ugly truth is it's the spineless parents who parade their undisciplined children around like royalty that make people dislike kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/the-ugly-truth-is-it-s-the-spineless-parents-who-parade-their/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [“He could not even kid himself that everything had not been up front, because it had been. And he hadn’t even done it alone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-could-not-even-kid-himself-that-everything-had-not-been-up-front/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“It’s crowded today, the day before the big macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and people are filling up the tunnel like lemmings or cockroaches running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-crowded-today-the-day-before-the-big-macy-s-thanksgiving-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the happiest when I'm in the studio, not on a beauty parade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fka-twigs/i-m-the-happiest-when-i-m-in-the-studio-not-on-a-beauty-parade/) [FKA twigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fka-twigs/) ## More by Ben Nicholas > [My first scene was a streaking scene, I had to streak at a footy game, that's how I get introduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/my-first-scene-was-a-streaking-scene-i-had-to-streak-at-a-footy-game/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [I've done a little bit of TV. I'm doing a little mini-series at the moment called 'Scooter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/i-ve-done-a-little-bit-of-tv-i-m-doing-a-little-mini-series-at-the/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-standing-on-the-corner-after/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [My first scene was a streaking scene, I had to streak at a footy game, thats how I get introduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/my-first-scene-was-a-streaking-scene-i-had-to-streak-at-a-footy-game-2/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [If I could work with any actor it would have to be Johnny Depp. He is cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-i-could-work-with-any-actor-it-would-have-to-be-johnny-depp-he-is/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [It's very hard to play a hyperactive character all the time, I try my best, but I end up collapsing at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/it-s-very-hard-to-play-a-hyperactive-character-all-the-time-i-try-my/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [I have mainly come from a theatre background, I did 'Oliver' here I played the Artful Dodger and I did 'The Sound of Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/i-have-mainly-come-from-a-theatre-background-i-did-oliver-here-i/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [Most people are nice and just want to have a chat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-people-are-nice-and-just-want-to-have-a-chat/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) [Explore all 9 Ben Nicholas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) ## More Bicycle quotes > [I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-stand-and-rejoice-every-time-i-see-a-woman-ride-by-on-a-wheel-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [My father had Parkinson's, though he actually died following a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/my-father-had-parkinson-s-though-he-actually-died-following-a-bicycle/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [At that age, it's one of the worse things in the world to wake up and not see your bike where you left it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/at-that-age-it-s-one-of-the-worse-things-in-the-world-to-wake-up-and/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [I think if I got a bicycle from my father, I should give a car to my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/i-think-if-i-got-a-bicycle-from-my-father-i-should-give-a-car-to-my/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [Life is like a bicycle; keep moving on to maintain balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/life-is-like-a-bicycle-keep-moving-on-to-maintain-balance/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It has been explained to me that toys are packaged in shards, to be assembled by the middle-aged and butter-fingered, because this makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/it-has-been-explained-to-me-that-toys-are-packaged-in-shards-to-be/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [I simply want to celebrate the fact that right near your home, year in and year out, a community college is quietly - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ryan/i-simply-want-to-celebrate-the-fact-that-right-near-your-home-year-in/) [Kay Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ryan/) > [Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/let-me-tell-you-what-i-think-of-bicycling-i-think-it-has-done-more-to/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [If we’re going to talk about transport, I would say that the great city is not the one that has highways, but one where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-penalosa/if-we-re-going-to-talk-about-transport-i-would-say-that-the-great/) [Enrique Penalosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-penalosa/) > [Like a fish needs a bicycle. A goldfish riding a bicycle underwater. I need a man like a fish needs a bicycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-dunn/like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle-a-goldfish-riding-a-bicycle-underwater-i/) Irina Dunn > [Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-riding-a-bicycle-to-keep-your-balance-you-must-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love a bicycle, and I haven't been without at least one since I was three years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/i-love-a-bicycle-and-i-haven-t-been-without-at-least-one-since-i-was/) [James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/) > [ Rose: Look at you, beaming away like you're Father Christmas! The Doctor: Who says I'm not, red-bicycle-when-you-were-twelve? Rose: \[shocked\] What? The Doctor: And everybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rose-look-at-you-beaming-away-like-you-re-father-christmas-the-doctor/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Life is like riding a bicycle: you don't fall off unless you stop pedaling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-pepper/life-is-like-riding-a-bicycle-you-don-t-fall-off-unless-you-stop/) [Claude Pepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-pepper/) [Browse all 531 Bicycle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Nicholas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby-but-routine-is-the-momentum/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bicycle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby-but-routine-is-the-momentum/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/ben-nicholas-43303_bicycle_most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby_672838.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait…” — Ben Nicholas", "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": "Ben Nicholas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most of life is routine -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby-but-routine-is-the-momentum/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby-but-routine-is-the-momentum/#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 } } ] } ```