--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life, if you keep chasing it so hard…" description: "\"“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 o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/elizabeth-gilbert-131_death_life-if-you-keep-chasing-it-so-hard-will_1297016.jpg" --- # Life, if you keep chasing it so hard, will drive you to… ![“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…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/elizabeth-gilbert-131_death_life-if-you-keep-chasing-it-so-hard-will_1297016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/elizabeth-gilbert-131_death_life-if-you-keep-chasing-it-so-hard-will_1297016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/elizabeth-gilbert-131_death_life-if-you-keep-chasing-it-so-hard-will_1297016.jpg) > ““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.”” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chasing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chasing/) [Chasing Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chasing-hard-4245425/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Hair color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair-color/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Chasing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-chasing-290984/) [Like Bandit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-bandit-2427206/) [Time Pursued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-pursued-2427207/) ## Related quotes > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/life-if-you-keep-chasing-it-so-hard-will-drive-you-to-death-time-when-2/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Time -- when pursued like a bandit -- will behave like one; always remaining one country or one room ahead of you, changing its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/time-when-pursued-like-a-bandit-will-behave-like-one-always-remaining/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Life, if you keep chasing it so hard, will drive you to death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/life-if-you-keep-chasing-it-so-hard-will-drive-you-to-death/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [But I was willing to embrace mortal life again, before chasing immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-was-willing-to-embrace-mortal-life-again-before-chasing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd rather spend a lifetime with the one I love, than to waste my life chasing after someone I don't care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-spend-a-lifetime-with-the-one-i-love-than-to-waste-my-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're chasing money you'll be running all your life. If you're chasing dreams you'll be living all your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/if-you-re-chasing-money-you-ll-be-running-all-your-life-if-you-re/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [Do you think she’ll catch him before he gets to the hall?” “My mom’s spent her whole life chasing me around,” Clary said. “She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/do-you-think-she-ll-catch-him-before-he-gets-to-the-hall-my-mom-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [My dad has definitely sacrificed a lot for me, and I don't know if I could do it if I was in his shoes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/my-dad-has-definitely-sacrificed-a-lot-for-me-and-i-don-t-know-if-i/) [Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/) > [Until you take ownership for your life, you will always be chasing happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-stephenson/until-you-take-ownership-for-your-life-you-will-always-be-chasing/) [Sean Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-stephenson/) > [“It could drive you mad to wake up to the fact that your whole life has been about chasing some false goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spalding-gray/it-could-drive-you-mad-to-wake-up-to-the-fact-that-your-whole-life/) [Spalding Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spalding-gray/) > [I'm a track star running through life, chasing my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/i-m-a-track-star-running-through-life-chasing-my-dream/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [“33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 34 and poverty will pounce on you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-fike/33-a-little-extra-sleep-a-little-more-slumber-a-little-folding-of-the/) [Al Fike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-fike/) > [“I made out like a bandit. Not that I’ve ever made out with a bandit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-made-out-like-a-bandit-not-that-i-ve-ever-made-out-with-a-bandit/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [How ironic, when chasing your dreams.. You appreciate dream time but you'll enjoy life chasing it while awake even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/how-ironic-when-chasing-your-dreams-you-appreciate-dream-time-but-you/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The moment you stop accepting challenge, is the moment you stop moving forward.Dont let your life change the aim & goal of life because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/the-moment-you-stop-accepting-challenge-is-the-moment-you-stop-moving/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) [Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More Chasing quotes > [Don't go chasing love because it'd leave you heart-broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-polydor/don-t-go-chasing-love-because-it-d-leave-you-heart-broken/) [Steve Polydor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-polydor/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) [Christoph Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-niemann/) > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people who put you down don't have to stop you from chasing your dreams. Stand up, and prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-people-who-put-you-down-don-t-have-to-stop-you-from-chasing-your/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [I say I'm chasing dreams but you know I've been running away from, running away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/i-say-i-m-chasing-dreams-but-you-know-i-ve-been-running-away-from/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [If its meant to be, it will be. End of story. Im not chasing you if you're chasing after someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-its-meant-to-be-it-will-be-end-of-story-im-not-chasing-you-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm chasing my goals, and I haven't been able to make things happen the way I want them to happen. It doesn't feel good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-dos-santos/i-m-chasing-my-goals-and-i-haven-t-been-able-to-make-things-happen/) [Junior dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-dos-santos/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Don't loose your respect chasing people who don't care about.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb/don-t-loose-your-respect-chasing-people-who-don-t-care-about/) [Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb/) > [“Two things you will never have to chase: True friends & true love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/two-things-you-will-never-have-to-chase-true-friends-true-love/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [Instead of being with a person that sincerely cares and wants to be with us, we long for some one who is chasing after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-being-with-a-person-that-sincerely-cares-and-wants-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are always chasing yourself, if you have testing sessions you test it out then but it's also a thing of growing a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guenther-steiner/you-are-always-chasing-yourself-if-you-have-testing-sessions-you-test/) [Guenther Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guenther-steiner/) > [ People say, "Look, your book \[Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle\] is about tall tales." And I said, "No, you don't understand,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/si-robertson/people-say-look-your-book-tales-and-wisdom-from-duck-dynasty-s/) [Si Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/si-robertson/) > [I'm not going to stress over you anymore. It really isn't worth it. I've tried to work everything out, but you've ignored it. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-going-to-stress-over-you-anymore-it-really-isn-t-worth-it-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only bad dreams are those not worth chasing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-bad-dreams-are-those-not-worth-chasing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,181 Chasing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chasing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Life, if you keep chasing it so hard, will drive you to death. 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