Barbara Quote by Isaac Asimov
“I was once being interviewed by Barbara Walters. In between two of the segments she asked me: "But what would you do if the doctor gave you only six months to live?" I said, "Type faster." This was widely quoted, but the "six months" was changed to "six minutes," which bothered me. It's "six months."”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Six‑Month Question” in Asimov’s collection of interviews, 1975
Urgency can sharpen focus; a short deadline forces productivity.
In simple terms: Deadlines boost speed.
Key Takeaway
Embrace urgency wisely.
Themes
productivity
time pressure
focus
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- project work
- creative writing
- academic research
- emergency response
Key Concepts
behavioral economics
motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What deadline would motivate you most?
- How can you balance speed with quality?
A Different Perspective
Excessive pressure may cause burnout.
![“I had never done a Director's Cut narration on Beaches so I did in time for the release of the DVD. It was a great visit and I do a whole-behind-the-scenes thing and I tell stories about Bette [Mudler] and Barbara Hershey and everybody and that was fun. It made me cry again.” quote by Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e30/garry-marshall-12551_barbara_i-had-never-done-a-director-s-cut-narrat_66832.jpg)
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