--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye…" description: "\"“...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye the illusion that ye have some control over your circumstances.”\" — Diana Gabaldon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg" --- # ...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye the illusion that… ![“...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye the illusion that ye have some control over your circumstances.” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg) > ““...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye the illusion that ye have some control over your circumstances.”” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing time creates a false sense of control over life’s events. **In simple terms:** Thinking you control time is an illusion. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty, focus on actions. Themes control illusion time uncertainty Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily planning - stress management - decision making Key Concepts psychology perception agency Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on the present change your stress level? - What habits help you stay grounded? A Different Perspective Time perception can still lead to anxiety if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“We cannot control our circumstances, but we can control our character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-morley/we-cannot-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our-character/) [Patrick Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-morley/) > [You can't always control the circumstances - only how you react to those circumstances; you can always control your attitude and your effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/you-can-t-always-control-the-circumstances-only-how-you-react-to/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [You can’t always control circumstances. However, you can always control your attitude, approach, and response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/you-can-t-always-control-circumstances-however-you-can-always-control/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [We have little control over the circumstances of life. We can't control the weather or the economy, and we can't control what other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/we-have-little-control-over-the-circumstances-of-life-we-can-t/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“I’ve heard it said that you can only control yourself and how you behave in any given setting. You can never control the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/i-ve-heard-it-said-that-you-can-only-control-yourself-and-how-you-2/) [Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/) > [“There is no situation under the sun in which your ability to respond can be taken away from you. You may not control your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/there-is-no-situation-under-the-sun-in-which-your-ability-to-respond/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“The way to control circumstances is to control the forces within yourself to make a greater man of yourself, and as you become greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-d-larson/the-way-to-control-circumstances-is-to-control-the-forces-within/) [Christian D. Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-d-larson/) > [You can not always control circumstances, but you can control your own thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-popplestown/you-can-not-always-control-circumstances-but-you-can-control-your-own/) Charles Popplestown > [“I’ve heard it said that you can only control yourself and how you behave in any given setting. You can never control the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/i-ve-heard-it-said-that-you-can-only-control-yourself-and-how-you/) [Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/) > [ We're not in control \[of circumstances\], but that does not mean we don't exercise a certain kind of conditioned agency. That's what it means… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/we-re-not-in-control-of-circumstances-but-that-does-not-mean-we-don-t/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [You might not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your response to your circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-might-not-be-able-to-control-your-circumstances-but-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [By releasing control over circumstances, you gain more control over your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maynard/by-releasing-control-over-circumstances-you-gain-more-control-over/) [Kyle Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maynard/) > [“We cannot control all the circumstances of our lives, but we can control our attitudes and our actions. If we don’t, someone else will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/we-cannot-control-all-the-circumstances-of-our-lives-but-we-can/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [If you're growing up in a chaotic world without reason, your instinct is to become a performer and control the circumstances around you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/if-you-re-growing-up-in-a-chaotic-world-without-reason-your-instinct/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) Levi Keely > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye the illusion that ye have some control over your circumstances.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the-illusion-that-ye-have-some/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clock" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the-illusion-that-ye-have-some/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/diana-gabaldon-185_clock_knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the_328865.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...knowing what o'clock it is gives ye the illusion that ye have some control over your circumstances.” — Diana Gabaldon", "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": "Diana Gabaldon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...knowing what o'clock it is gives...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the-illusion-that-ye-have-some/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/knowing-what-o-clock-it-is-gives-ye-the-illusion-that-ye-have-some/#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 } } ] } ```