Entropy Quote by Jeremy Rifkin
““Time goes forward because energy itself is always moving from an available to an unavailable state. Our consciousness is continually recording the entropy change in the world around us. We watch our friends get old and die. We sit next to a fire and watch it's red-hot embers turn slowly into cold white ashes. We experience the world always changing around us, and that experience is the unfolding of the second law. It is the irreversible process of dissipation of energy in the world. What does it mean to say, 'The world is running out of time'? Simply this: we experience the passage of time by the succession of one event after another. And every time an event occurs anywhere in this world energy is expended and the overall entropy is increased. To say the world is running out of time then, to say the world is running out of usable energy. In the words of Sir Arthur Eddington, 'Entropy is time's arrow'.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Entropy and Time, Jeremy Rifkin, 2015
The passage links time's flow to entropy, stating that as energy becomes less usable, time appears to run out; our consciousness perceives time through sequential events that increase entropy.
In simple terms: Time passes as energy spreads and becomes less usable.
Key Takeaway
Recognize energy efficiency to extend functional time.
Themes
physics
entropy
time perception
Mood
thoughtful
scientific
Type
philosophical
informative
When to use this quote
- energy management
- environmental policy
- personal productivity
- technology design
Key Concepts
thermodynamics
philosophy
consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does entropy affect daily decisions?
- Can we mitigate perceived time scarcity?
A Different Perspective
Entropy increase is inevitable; we cannot halt time's arrow.
