Behinds Quote by Harlan Ellison
“Uh, excuse me, sir, I, uh, don't known how to uh, to uh, tell you this, but you were three minutes late. The schedule is a little, uh, bit off." He grinned sheepishly. "That's ridiculous!" murmured the Ticktockman behind his mask. "Check your watch." And then he went into his office, going mrmee, mrmee, mrmee, mrmee.”
About This Quote
Source Short Story: "The Ticktockman", 1965
A character's minor lateness triggers absurd bureaucracy, highlighting the absurdity of rigid schedules.
In simple terms: Being a little late leads to ridiculous rules.
Key Takeaway
Question authority when rules seem unreasonable.
Themes
bureaucracy
time
absurdity
authority
Mood
satirical
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace deadlines
- public transport
- school timetables
- event planning
Key Concepts
social control
conformity
humor
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you challenged a strict rule?
- What are the costs of over‑regulating time?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay real consequences of inflexibility.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
