---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In truth, we're all just pottering…"
description: "\"In truth, we're all just pottering, filling the time that we have here, only we like to make ourselves feel bigger by compiling lists of importance.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg"
---

#  In truth, we're all just pottering, filling the time that…

![“In truth, we're all just pottering, filling the time that we have here, only we like to make ourselves feel bigger by compiling lists of importance.” quote by Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg)

> “In truth, we're all just pottering, filling the time that we have here, only we like to make ourselves feel bigger by compiling lists of importance.”

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

## About This Quote

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

People distract themselves with trivial tasks and lists to feel important, avoiding deeper meaning of life.

**In simple terms:** We fill time with busywork to feel significant.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and prioritize what truly matters.

Themes

meaning time distraction self‑worth

Mood

reflective contemplative

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- daily routines
- work projects
- personal goals
- social media usage

Key Concepts

existentialism mindfulness productivity

Questions to Reflect On

- What activities truly enrich your life?
- How can you balance productivity with purpose?

A Different Perspective

Lists can become a false sense of achievement without real fulfillment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [Feel Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-bigger-403894/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Filling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filling/) [Filling Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filling-time-5568917/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Just Pottering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-pottering-2068265/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Make Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-feel/) [Pottering Filling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pottering-filling-5568918/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [The here-and-now is no mere filling of time, but a filling of time with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-foster/the-here-and-now-is-no-mere-filling-of-time-but-a-filling-of-time/)

[John W. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-foster/)

> [At home, I relax by gardening, or just pottering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-saunders/at-home-i-relax-by-gardening-or-just-pottering/)

[Jennifer Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-saunders/)

> [It is a great thing if you can persuade people that they are somehow or other partakers in a mystery. It makes them feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/it-is-a-great-thing-if-you-can-persuade-people-that-they-are-somehow/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

> [You little niggas do whatever make you feel bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/you-little-niggas-do-whatever-make-you-feel-bigger/)

[Fabolous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabolous/)

> [“If we use our religion to make us feel bigger, better, stronger than another, instead of secure enough to be one with each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/if-we-use-our-religion-to-make-us-feel-bigger-better-stronger-than/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [When I have one martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller. When I have a second, I feel superlative. When I have more, there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/when-i-have-one-martini-i-feel-bigger-wiser-taller-when-i-have-a/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [If you have to rely on yourself, you try harder, and when you try harder, you feel bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/if-you-have-to-rely-on-yourself-you-try-harder-and-when-you-try/)

[Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/)

> [There are days where I've lost weight and I feel bigger or fatter or uglier and I want to just hibernate. I'll find every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carnie-wilson/there-are-days-where-i-ve-lost-weight-and-i-feel-bigger-or-fatter-or/)

[Carnie Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carnie-wilson/)

> [I love creating moments that feel bigger than just like an artist on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-love-creating-moments-that-feel-bigger-than-just-like-an-artist-on/)

[Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/)

> [I think it's absolutely essential that the people that work for a company need to feel that they're part of something bigger - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/i-think-it-s-absolutely-essential-that-the-people-that-work-for-a/)

[John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/)

> [I'm not going to be horrible just for the sake of having attitude or make other people feel small just to make me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/i-m-not-going-to-be-horrible-just-for-the-sake-of-having-attitude-or/)

[Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/)

> [With your hand in mine, I feel bigger then the trees that hold the leaves, Bigger then the mountains that touch the sea, Bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-your-hand-in-mine-i-feel-bigger-then-the-trees-that-hold-the/)

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

> [Using words to make other people less big made me feel bigger, though the psychological dimension to that... well, I don't want to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-hersh/using-words-to-make-other-people-less-big-made-me-feel-bigger-though/)

[Seymour Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-hersh/)

> [I feel the bigger the stage, the pressure starts to get to others and they crumble. I feel like this is where I shine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/i-feel-the-bigger-the-stage-the-pressure-starts-to-get-to-others-and/)

[Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/)

> [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

## More by Cecelia Ahern

> [“Don't worry, nothing speaks louder than a lifetime of regret and self-loathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/don-t-worry-nothing-speaks-louder-than-a-lifetime-of-regret-and-self/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“Edith says that there are some people in the world that don't you all the time or play games but they still love you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/edith-says-that-there-are-some-people-in-the-world-that-don-t-you-all/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“Ruby: How nice for you all. How is the wonderfully helpful Ursula? Rosie: Wonderfully helpful. Yesterday she told me I had problems discussing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/ruby-how-nice-for-you-all-how-is-the-wonderfully-helpful-ursula-rosie/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“If you can't put magnolia on a wall then there are always a million other colors you can use, if you can't pay your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/if-you-can-t-put-magnolia-on-a-wall-then-there-are-always-a-million/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [As the rain falls and the sun shines, they grow, grow, grow; minds so open, they go through life aware and accepting, seeing light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/as-the-rain-falls-and-the-sun-shines-they-grow-grow-grow-minds-so/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [Her best friend was gone and nobody understood that no amount of makeup, fresh air or shopping was going to fill the hole in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/her-best-friend-was-gone-and-nobody-understood-that-no-amount-of/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [Alex: Rosie, I wanted you to be the first person to no that I’ve decided to become a heart surgeon! Rosie: Cool, does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/alex-rosie-i-wanted-you-to-be-the-first-person-to-no-that-i-ve/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [Holly's theory about the army," Sharon explained. And what is it?" Denise asked, intrigued. Oh, that fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/holly-s-theory-about-the-army-sharon-explained-and-what-is-it-denise/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“Fairy tales are such evil little stories for young children. Every time I’m in a mess I expect a long-haired posh-speaking man to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/fairy-tales-are-such-evil-little-stories-for-young-children-every/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [I always pushed myself. Whenever I felt I needed to stop, I made myself run faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-always-pushed-myself-whenever-i-felt-i-needed-to-stop-i-made-myself/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“... however good it is, some love isn't meant to be for ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/however-good-it-is-some-love-isn-t-meant-to-be-for-ever/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [I always take a story that's kind of out there, like an urban myth. I take some possibility that people imagine, that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-always-take-a-story-that-s-kind-of-out-there-like-an-urban-myth-i/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“At moments when life is at its worst there are two things that you can do: 1. Breakdown, lose hope and refuse to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/at-moments-when-life-is-at-its-worst-there-are-two-things-that-you/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“Life is made up of meetings and partings. People come into your life everyday, you say good morning, you say good evening, some stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/life-is-made-up-of-meetings-and-partings-people-come-into-your-life/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [“Home isn't a place, its a feeling”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/home-isn-t-a-place-its-a-feeling/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

[Explore all 462 Cecelia Ahern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

## More Bigger quotes

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/)

[Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/)

> [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/)

[Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/)

> [I just think structure can make a book feel so much bigger. It's the architecture. You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/)

[Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/)

> [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Sometimes people can write really great scenes and even a great episode, but they can't see the bigger picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/sometimes-people-can-write-really-great-scenes-and-even-a-great/)

[M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/)

> [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/)

[Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/)

> [If you consider yourself a part of the culture, then finances can't allow you to be bigger than the actual art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/if-you-consider-yourself-a-part-of-the-culture-then-finances-can-t/)

[Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/)

> [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/)

[S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/)

> [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [I think everyone has been annoyed at school or in their life, that's a type of bullying. So, you can take those feelings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-everyone-has-been-annoyed-at-school-or-in-their-life-that-s-a/)

[Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/)

> [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/)

[Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/)

[Browse all 3,614 Bigger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In truth, we're all just pottering, filling the time that we have here, only we like to make ourselves feel bigger by compiling lists of importance.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cecelia Ahern"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-filling-the-time-that-we-have-here/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bigger"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-filling-the-time-that-we-have-here/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/cecelia-ahern-535_bigger_in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-fillin_2324459.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In truth, we're all just pottering, filling the time that we have here, only we like to make ourselves feel…” — Cecelia Ahern",
                "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": "Cecelia Ahern",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In truth, we're all just pottering,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-filling-the-time-that-we-have-here/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/in-truth-we-re-all-just-pottering-filling-the-time-that-we-have-here/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
