--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can measure distance by time. 'How…" description: "\"You can measure distance by time. 'How far away is it?' 'Oh about 20 minutes.' But it doesn't work the other way. 'When do you get off work?' 'Around 3..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/jerry-seinfeld-880_distance_you-can-measure-distance-by-time-how-far_1105151.jpg" --- # You can measure distance by time. 'How far away is it?'… ![“You can measure distance by time. 'How far away is it?' 'Oh about 20 minutes.' But it doesn't work the other way. 'When do you get off work?' 'Around 3 miles.'” quote by Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/jerry-seinfeld-880_distance_you-can-measure-distance-by-time-how-far_1105151.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/jerry-seinfeld-880_distance_you-can-measure-distance-by-time-how-far_1105151.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/jerry-seinfeld-880_distance_you-can-measure-distance-by-time-how-far_1105151.jpg) > “You can measure distance by time. 'How far away is it?' 'Oh about 20 minutes.' But it doesn't work the other way. 'When do you get off work?' 'Around 3 miles.'” [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is often used as a proxy for distance, but the conversion only works one way; you can estimate distance from travel time, not the reverse. **In simple terms:** Time can estimate distance, not vice versa. Key Takeaway Beware of assuming reverse conversions work. Themes communication perception logic Mood lighthearted observational Type humorous insightful When to use this quote - travel planning - daily conversation - navigation - time management Key Concepts relativity cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - Do you often rely on time to gauge distance? - How can you improve spatial awareness? A Different Perspective Time estimates can be misleading without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Today, at this very moment in time, is as far into the future as you can go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-alan-milne/today-at-this-very-moment-in-time-is-as-far-into-the-future-as-you/) [Kevin Alan Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-alan-milne/) > [When you shall understand someone, is the time there will be far from you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shall-understand-someone-is-the-time-there-will-be-far-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Didn't know you could measure distance so well with nothing but you bloody eyeballs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/didn-t-know-you-could-measure-distance-so-well-with-nothing-but-you/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [You can't measure time the way you measure the distance between two points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-can-t-measure-time-the-way-you-measure-the-distance-between-two/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Sometimes the best way to measure distance is not to look back and see how far we've gone, but to look ahead and see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-best-way-to-measure-distance-is-not-to-look-back-and/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [The longer a line, the more of the time element it contains. Distance is time whereas a surface is apprehended more in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-longer-a-line-the-more-of-the-time-element-it-contains-distance/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [No matter how far you are, no matter how long it takes you. Through distance and time I'll be waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-far-you-are-no-matter-how-long-it-takes-you-through-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He had been trying to measure the distance between the earth and God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/he-had-been-trying-to-measure-the-distance-between-the-earth-and-god/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Everywhere is walking distance if you have time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/everywhere-is-walking-distance-if-you-have-time/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [No matter how far you are. No matter how long it takes him. Through Distance And Time I'll be waiting ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/no-matter-how-far-you-are-no-matter-how-long-it-takes-him-through/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [Don't measure the distance; measure my love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-measure-the-distance-measure-my-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd much rather win in three or four sets than go the distance all the time; I seem to put everyone through the wringer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lleyton-hewitt/i-d-much-rather-win-in-three-or-four-sets-than-go-the-distance-all/) [Lleyton Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lleyton-hewitt/) > [If you are in a long distance relationship, Dont measure the distance instead measure the love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-in-a-long-distance-relationship-dont-measure-the-distance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/everywhere-is-walking-distance-if-you-have-the-time/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Only poetry can measure the distance between ourselves and the Other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simic/only-poetry-can-measure-the-distance-between-ourselves-and-the-other/) [Charles Simic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simic/) ## More by Jerry Seinfeld > [“i chose not to run”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-chose-not-to-run/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [We’re all trying to get to the same island, whether you swim, fly, surf, or skydive in, it doesn’t matter. What matters is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/we-re-all-trying-to-get-to-the-same-island-whether-you-swim-fly-surf/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I have a nice bookshelf in my office, but not my house. I'm crass, but not that crass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-have-a-nice-bookshelf-in-my-office-but-not-my-house-i-m-crass-but/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [There's no downside to fame and people who whine about it make me sick. It's the greatest thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/there-s-no-downside-to-fame-and-people-who-whine-about-it-make-me/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [We're all trying to get to the same island — whether you swim, fly, surf, or skydive, it doesn't matter. What matters is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/we-re-all-trying-to-get-to-the-same-island-whether-you-swim-fly-surf-2/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I was in the drug store the other day trying to get a cold medication...Not easy. There's an entire wall of products you need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-was-in-the-drug-store-the-other-day-trying-to-get-a-cold-medication/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I went up to the camp and Paul had me eat my first oyster I had never had an oyster in my life. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-went-up-to-the-camp-and-paul-had-me-eat-my-first-oyster-i-had-never/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Then, finally, the third year, begging the parents, I got the Superman Halloween costume. Cardboard box, self-made top, mask included. Remember the rubber band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/then-finally-the-third-year-begging-the-parents-i-got-the-superman/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [This is really a crazy idea, you know. It probably won't work, but that will be interesting, too. You have to motivate yourself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/this-is-really-a-crazy-idea-you-know-it-probably-won-t-work-but-that/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [If you get something right, you really feel it, right in your chest, on stage. 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But my personal favorite would have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/there-are-many-things-you-can-point-to-as-proof-that-the-human-is-not/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [You know what I never get with the limo? The tinted windows. Is that so people don't see you? Yeah, what a better way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/you-know-what-i-never-get-with-the-limo-the-tinted-windows-is-that-so/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) [Explore all 342 Jerry Seinfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) Levi Keely > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. 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A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can measure distance by time. 'How far away is it?' 'Oh about 20 minutes.' But it doesn't work the other way. 'When do you get off work?' 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