Chasing Quote by Elizabeth Gilbert
““Life, if you keep chasing it so hard, will drive you to death. Time - when pursued like a bandit - will behave like one, always remaining one county or one room ahead of you, changing its name and hair color to elude you, slipping out the back door of the motel just as you're banging through the lobby with your newest search warrant, leaving only a burning cigarette in the ashtray to taunt you. At some point you have to stop because it won't. You have to admit that you can't catch it. That you're not supposed to catch it. At some point, you gotta let go and sit still and allow contentment to come to you.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: "Big Magic" discussion, 2015
The quote warns that obsessively chasing time and success leads to burnout; true contentment comes from acceptance and stillness.
In simple terms: Chasing time exhausts you; accept and be still for peace.
Key Takeaway
Stop the chase, embrace stillness.
Themes
time
stress
acceptance
contentment
balance
Mood
reflective
calm
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career pressure
- creative projects
- personal growth
- health burnout
- relationship expectations
Key Concepts
impermanence
mindfulness
existential anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- What does stillness look like in your daily life?
- How can you balance ambition with acceptance?
A Different Perspective
If you stop chasing, you may miss opportunities that require effort.
![“And while [we] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives have the potential to breed their own brand of trouble. We are susceptible to emotional uncertainties and neuroses that are probably not very…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7fb/elizabeth-gilbert-131_choice_and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that_30637.jpg)
