---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it is only a slight exaggeration to say…"
description: "\"“it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the average busy professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, takes ca..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg"
---

#  it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the average…

![“it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the average busy professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, takes care of personal and family obligations, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she likely committed several federal crimes that day.” quote by Harvey Silverglate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg)

> ““it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the average busy professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, takes care of personal and family obligations, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she likely committed several federal crimes that day.””

Harvey Silverglate

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Everyday routines can mask serious ethical breaches, highlighting hidden societal issues.

**In simple terms:** Routine hides wrongdoing.

Key Takeaway

Examine daily actions for ethics.

Themes

ethics routine societal critique

Mood

critical serious

Type

Busy:1 Family:1 Morning:1 Average Busy:0 Busy Professional:1 Country Wakes:0 Federal Crimes:1

When to use this quote

- workplace behavior
- family life
- policy analysis

Key Concepts

law sociology

Questions to Reflect On

- What unnoticed harms exist in your routine?
- How can you promote ethical awareness?

A Different Perspective

Changing may be hyperbolic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/)

## Related quotes

> [I believe President Obama loves this country and wakes up every morning trying to do what is best for our nation, even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/i-believe-president-obama-loves-this-country-and-wakes-up-every/)

[Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/)

> [Outside of a few national security issues like treason that the Constitution lays out, we don't need federal crimes, and we don't need federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-woodall/outside-of-a-few-national-security-issues-like-treason-that-the/)

[Rob Woodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-woodall/)

> [“Because of laws like these and countless others, legal experts now agree that just about everybody in the nation, whether they know it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/because-of-laws-like-these-and-countless-others-legal-experts-now/)

[James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/)

> [“the United States Congress was passing a new criminal law once a week on average.7 It has been reported that the problem is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-united-states-congress-was-passing-a-new-criminal-law-once-a-week/)

[James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/)

> [“The Constitution names only three federal offenses: treason, piracy, and counterfeiting. Today there are over forty-five hundred federal crimes, and the number continues to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/the-constitution-names-only-three-federal-offenses-treason-piracy-and/)

[John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/)

> [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/)

[Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/)

> [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/)

[Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/)

[Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/)

> [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/)

[Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/)

[Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/)

> [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/)

Victoria Derbyshire

## More by Harvey Silverglate

> [“we are in danger of becoming a society in which prosecutors alone become judges, juries and executioners because the threat of high sentences makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-silverglate/we-are-in-danger-of-becoming-a-society-in-which-prosecutors-alone/)

Harvey Silverglate

Explore all 2 Harvey Silverglate quotes

## More Busy quotes

> [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/)

Victoria Derbyshire

> [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/)

[Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/)

> [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/)

[Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/)

> [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/)

[Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/)

> [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/)

[Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/)

[Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/)

> [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/)

[Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/)

> [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/)

[Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/)

> [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/)

[Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/)

> [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/)

The Shawshank Redemption

Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the average busy professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, takes care of personal and family obligations, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she likely committed several federal crimes that day.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harvey Silverglate"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-silverglate/it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say-that-the-average-busy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Busy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-silverglate/it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say-that-the-average-busy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/harvey-silverglate-95391_busy_it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say_2532482.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the average busy professional in this country wakes up in the…” — Harvey Silverglate",
                "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": "Harvey Silverglate",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-silverglate/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“it is only a slight exaggeration...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-silverglate/it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say-that-the-average-busy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-silverglate/it-is-only-a-slight-exaggeration-to-say-that-the-average-busy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
