--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [A Chinese Restaurant.] Roma is seated…" description: "\"“ [A Chinese Restaurant.] Roma is seated alone at the booth. Lingk is at the booth next to him. Roma is talking to him. * * * Roma: . . . Eh? What I’m ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/david-mamet-1178_cybersecurity_a-chinese-restaurant-roma-is-seated-alon_970195.jpg" --- # \[A Chinese Restaurant.\] Roma is seated alone at the booth… ![“[A Chinese Restaurant.] Roma is seated alone at the booth. Lingk is at the booth next to him. Roma is talking to him. * * * Roma: . . . Eh? What I’m saying, what is our life? (Pause.) It’s looking forward or it’s looking back. And that’s our life. That’s it. Where is the moment ? (Pause.) And what…” quote by David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/david-mamet-1178_cybersecurity_a-chinese-restaurant-roma-is-seated-alon_970195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/david-mamet-1178_cybersecurity_a-chinese-restaurant-roma-is-seated-alon_970195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/david-mamet-1178_cybersecurity_a-chinese-restaurant-roma-is-seated-alon_970195.jpg) > ““ \[A Chinese Restaurant.\] Roma is seated alone at the booth. Lingk is at the booth next to him. Roma is talking to him. \* \* \* Roma: . . . Eh? What I’m saying, what is our life? (Pause.) It’s looking forward or it’s looking back. And that’s our life. That’s it. Where is the moment ? (Pause.) And what is it that we’re afraid of? Loss. What else? (Pause.) The bank closes. We get sick , my wife died on a plane, the stock market collapsed . . . the house burnt down . . . what of these happen . . . ? None of ’em. We worry anyway. What does this mean? I’m not secure. How can I be secure? (Pause.) Through amassing wealth beyond all measure? No. And what’s beyond all measure? That’s a sickness. That’s a trap. There is no measure. Only greed. How can we act? The right way, we would say, to deal with this: “There is a one-in-a million chance that so and so will happen. . . . Fuck it, it won’t happen to me. . . .” No. We know that’s not the right way I think. (Pause.) We say the correct way to deal with this is “There is a one-in-so-and-so chance that this will happen . . . God protect me. I am powerless, let it not happen to me. . . .” But no to that . I say. There’s something else. What is it? “If it happens, AS IT MAY for that is not within our powers, I will deal with it, just as I do today with what draws my concern today.” I say this is how we must act. I do those things which seem correct to me today . I trust myself. And if security concerns me, I do that which today I think will make me secure. And every day I do that, when that day arrives that I need a reserve, (a) odds are that I have it, and (b) the true reserve that I have is the strength that I have of acting each day without fear. (Pause.) According to the dictates of my mind. (Pause.) ”” [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The monologue explores how anxiety about future loss drives us to seek security, but true security comes from acting responsibly in the present without fear. **In simple terms:** Fear of loss leads us to chase security, but acting today builds real strength. Key Takeaway Act responsibly now, trust your daily choices. Themes anxiety security presence decision‑making Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crises - financial uncertainty - health scares - daily decision making - risk management Key Concepts existentialism psychology agency Questions to Reflect On - How can you act responsibly when external forces dominate? - What daily habits build genuine confidence? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic factors that limit personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Saying life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-life/) [Trust myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-myself/) ## Related quotes > [“What is our life: (Pause.) it’s looking forward or it’s looking back. And that’s our life. That’s it. 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Lingk is at the booth next to him. Roma is talking to him. * * * Roma: . . . Eh? What I’m saying, what is our life? (Pause.) It’s looking forward or it’s looking back. And that’s our life. That’s it. Where is the moment ? (Pause.) And what is it that we’re afraid of? Loss. What else? (Pause.) The bank closes. We get sick , my wife died on a plane, the stock market collapsed . . . the house burnt down . . . what of these happen . . . ? None of ’em. We worry anyway. What does this mean? I’m not secure. How can I be secure? (Pause.) Through amassing wealth beyond all measure? No. And what’s beyond all measure? That’s a sickness. That’s a trap. There is no measure. Only greed. How can we act? The right way, we would say, to deal with this: “There is a one-in-a million chance that so and so will happen. . . . Fuck it, it won’t happen to me. . . .” No. We know that’s not the right way I think. (Pause.) We say the correct way to deal with this is “There is a one-in-so-and-so chance that this will happen . . . God protect me. I am powerless, let it not happen to me. . . .” But no to that . I say. There’s something else. What is it? “If it happens, AS IT MAY for that is not within our powers, I will deal with it, just as I do today with what draws my concern today.” I say this is how we must act. I do those things which seem correct to me today . I trust myself. And if security concerns me, I do that which today I think will make me secure. And every day I do that, when that day arrives that I need a reserve, (a) odds are that I have it, and (b) the true reserve that I have is the strength that I have of acting each day without fear. (Pause.) According to the dictates of my mind. 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