Poetry Quote by Don DeLillo
““It's all embedded, the hours and minutes, words and numbers everywhere, he said, train stations, bus routes, taxi meters, surveillance cameras. It's all about time, dimwit time, inferior time, people checking watches and other devices, other reminders. This is time draining out of our lives. Cities were built to measure time, to remove time from nature. There's an endless counting down, he said. When you strip away all the surfaces, when you see into it, what's left is terror. This is the thing that literature was meant to cure. The epic poem, the bedtime story.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: White Noise, 1985
The quote critiques modern society’s obsession with quantifying time, suggesting it alienates us from natural rhythms and creates existential dread.
In simple terms: Modern life’s focus on clocks creates anxiety and emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reclaim unmeasured moments.
Themes
time
technology
alienation
existential dread
culture
literature
Mood
anxious
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- urban living
- commuting
- digital surveillance
- personal reflection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
chronemics
social critique
psychology
media theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does constant time tracking affect your sense of freedom?
- What practices help you reconnect with natural cycles?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook benefits of time management and coordination.
