--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time is cruel like life. It slows down so…" description: "\"Time is cruel like life. It slows down so that you can truly experience the worst moments of it. Only if you make it through them do you get to say ‘It..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/j-a-redmerski-1662_cruel_time-is-cruel-like-life-it-slows-down-so_1148227.png" --- # Time is cruel like life. It slows down so that you can… ![“Time is cruel like life. It slows down so that you can truly experience the worst moments of it. Only if you make it through them do you get to say ‘It all happened so fast.” quote by J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/j-a-redmerski-1662_cruel_time-is-cruel-like-life-it-slows-down-so_1148227.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/j-a-redmerski-1662_cruel_time-is-cruel-like-life-it-slows-down-so_1148227.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/j-a-redmerski-1662_cruel_time-is-cruel-like-life-it-slows-down-so_1148227.png) > “Time is cruel like life. It slows down so that you can truly experience the worst moments of it. Only if you make it through them do you get to say ‘It all happened so fast.” [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard times feel elongated, making pain vivid; surviving them lets you later view life as fleeting. **In simple terms:** Pain feels slower, later life seems fast. Key Takeaway Endure hardship to gain perspective. Themes suffering time perspective Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal growth - trauma recovery Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How have you transformed a painful period into insight? - Do you ever feel time truly speeds up after hardship? A Different Perspective Endurance may not always lead to a sense of speed afterward. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Life NEVER slows down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-holly/life-never-slows-down/) [Lauren Holly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-holly/) > [Anytime we drag our past into the future, we have some grieving to do. When we refuse to grieve, we hang on to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-arterburn/anytime-we-drag-our-past-into-the-future-we-have-some-grieving-to-do/) [Steve Arterburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-arterburn/) > [As you get older, time speeds up but life slows down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/as-you-get-older-time-speeds-up-but-life-slows-down/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“Because someday, when your life slows down, you're going to look at all the great things you've done and the people you've touched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/because-someday-when-your-life-slows-down-you-re-going-to-look-at-all/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“You know why you won fights as an initiate?” I say as I get to my feet. “Because you’re cruel. Because you like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-know-why-you-won-fights-as-an-initiate-i-say-as-i-get-to-my-feet/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I felt suddenly cruel, like I´d told dmall children there was no tooth fairy, that it was just their Mom sneaking into their room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-felt-suddenly-cruel-like-i-d-told-dmall-children-there-was-no-tooth/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“Now you're just being cruel." "I like pushing your buttons." "You'd enjoy it more if you undid them first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/now-you-re-just-being-cruel-i-like-pushing-your-buttons-you-d-enjoy/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [Why were we put here, so inclined to love, when end of our story = death? That harsh. That cruel. Do not like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/why-were-we-put-here-so-inclined-to-love-when-end-of-our-story-death/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“I felt suddenly cruel, like I'd told small children there was no tooth fairy, that it was just their Mom sneaking into their room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-felt-suddenly-cruel-like-i-d-told-small-children-there-was-no-tooth/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-times-of-rapid-change-experience-could-be-your-worst-enemy/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [Experience is the worst teacher; it gives the test before presenting the lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vern-law/experience-is-the-worst-teacher-it-gives-the-test-before-presenting/) Vern Law > [Experience is the worst teacher, it gives the life lessons first and the instructions later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrena-watson/experience-is-the-worst-teacher-it-gives-the-life-lessons-first-and/) Sabrena Watson > [At that time you will feel the fragrance of flowers in my experience, the worst time tostart taking you to the test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/at-that-time-you-will-feel-the-fragrance-of-flowers-in-my-experience/) Mak\_786 > [I went from someone who really wanted to perform from a really young age - that was all I knew - to going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesy-nelson/i-went-from-someone-who-really-wanted-to-perform-from-a-really-young/) [Jesy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesy-nelson/) > [Experience is the worst teacher, but you learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-is-the-worst-teacher-but-you-learn-from-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by J.A. 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Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [Live in the moment, where everything is just right, take your time and limit your bad memories and you'll get wherever it is you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/live-in-the-moment-where-everything-is-just-right-take-your-time-and/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Maybe that is the key to surviving change: embracing it, however cumbersomely, or gracefully, one can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/maybe-that-is-the-key-to-surviving-change-embracing-it-however/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“spontaneity is more rewarding than a meticulously planned life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/spontaneity-is-more-rewarding-than-a-meticulously-planned-life/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [I don't know myself. I don't know what I want or how I feel or how I should feeland I don't think I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-don-t-know-myself-i-don-t-know-what-i-want-or-how-i-feel-or-how-i/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“You know damn well that it doesn’t really matter what’s going on in your life, who you just lost, how much you hate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/you-know-damn-well-that-it-doesn-t-really-matter-what-s-going-on-in/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“The heart always wins over the mind. The heart although reckless and suicidal and a masochist all on its own always gets its way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/the-heart-always-wins-over-the-mind-the-heart-although-reckless-and/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“I go to the window of my top floor hotel room and gaze out, not at the glittering city, but at the stars fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-go-to-the-window-of-my-top-floor-hotel-room-and-gaze-out-not-at-the/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Don't, he says and then places his free hand underneath mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/don-t-he-says-and-then-places-his-free-hand-underneath-mine/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Where everything is just right, take your time and limit your bad memories and you'll get wherever it is you're going a lot faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/where-everything-is-just-right-take-your-time-and-limit-your-bad/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Forgive me,” I whisper to Izabel, ignoring it all, as if I were in the eye of that storm where everything is calm, rocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/forgive-me-i-whisper-to-izabel-ignoring-it-all-as-if-i-were-in-the/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [Are you in love with me, Camryn Bennett?” … “Not yet,” I say with a smile in my voice, “but I’m getting there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/are-you-in-love-with-me-camryn-bennett-not-yet-i-say-with-a-smile-in/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“He's gawking at me when I open the door. "Damn girl," he says, looking me over, "what the hell are you trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/he-s-gawking-at-me-when-i-open-the-door-damn-girl-he-says-looking-me/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) [Explore all 212 J.A. Redmerski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) ## More Cruel quotes > [“History has a cruel way of disappointing optimists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thompson/history-has-a-cruel-way-of-disappointing-optimists/) Keith Thompson > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“Don't be so cruel to me. Don't promise me anything. I've got everything that i need. I need love in a good way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/don-t-be-so-cruel-to-me-don-t-promise-me-anything-i-ve-got-everything/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [Pity is cruel. Pity destroys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/pity-is-cruel-pity-destroys/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“Even the cruel feel pain. And even the cruel can change. I hope this changes him. He could do so much, if only he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/even-the-cruel-feel-pain-and-even-the-cruel-can-change-i-hope-this/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [You must learn that to endure cruelty is to become cruel yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bleach/you-must-learn-that-to-endure-cruelty-is-to-become-cruel-yourself/) [Bleach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bleach/) > [“my power is as cruel a joke as it can get? That’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-d-anderson/my-power-is-as-cruel-a-joke-as-it-can-get-that-s/) Katie D. Anderson > [I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-must-be-cruel-only-to-be-kind-thus-bad-begins-and-worse-remains/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Huamns, uregulated, are cruel and capricious; violet and selfish; miserable and quarrelsome. It is only after their instincts and basic emotions have been controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/huamns-uregulated-are-cruel-and-capricious-violet-and-selfish/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [how cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/how-cruel-your-veins-are-full-of-ice-water-and-mine-are-boiling/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [There is no kindness more cruel than the kindness which consigns another person to their sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-no-kindness-more-cruel-than-the-kindness-which-consigns/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Vanity can create a very cruel space for you if you don't know how to manage it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/vanity-can-create-a-very-cruel-space-for-you-if-you-don-t-know-how-to/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Life is cruel and we do terrible things to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/life-is-cruel-and-we-do-terrible-things-to-each-other/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-people-loathe-the-most-is-to-be-orphaned-desolate-unworthy-but/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) Browse all 1,069 Cruel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time is cruel like life. It slows down so that you can truly experience the worst moments of it. Only if you make it through them do you get to say ‘It all happened so fast.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.A. 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