--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In sum, one of the primary things I…" description: "\"“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned to give myself away.”\" — Derrick Jensen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/derrick-jensen-2824_classes_in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learn_26282.png" --- # In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to… ![“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned to give myself away.” quote by Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/derrick-jensen-2824_classes_in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learn_26282.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/derrick-jensen-2824_classes_in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learn_26282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/derrick-jensen-2824_classes_in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learn_26282.png) > ““In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned to give myself away.”” [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on mastering the art of passing time, yearning for escape, and losing self-identity, highlighting existential emptiness and self‑destruction. **In simple terms:** Existential emptiness and self‑loss Key Takeaway Time can become a weapon against meaning Themes existentialism self‑destruction nihilism identity escape time perception Mood melancholy introspective despair Type philosophical personal confession literary When to use this quote - loneliness - creative burnout - existential crisis - habitual procrastination Key Concepts meaning of life personal agency psychological coping Practical Applications - therapy for existential dread - literary analysis of nihilistic narratives Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to 'kill time' beyond passing it? - How does wishing away one's life affect personal agency? 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You’ll do better next time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/it-was-no-waste-of-time-you-learned-you-grew-you-ll-do-better-next/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [I had to learn how to walk three times: every time I learned, I learned wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-had-to-learn-how-to-walk-three-times-every-time-i-learned-i-learned/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) ## More by Derrick Jensen > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so-stress-the-positive-with-my/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If the world is presented as resources to be exploited, then, more than likely, you're going to exploit the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-the-world-is-presented-as-resources-to-be-exploited-then-more-than/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [It's no wonder we don't defend the land where we live. 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