--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Busy yourselves with this, you damned…" description: "\"Busy yourselves with this, you damned walruses, while the rest of use proceed with the libretto.\" — John Barrymore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg" --- # Busy yourselves with this, you damned walruses, while the… ![“Busy yourselves with this, you damned walruses, while the rest of use proceed with the libretto.” quote by John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg) > “Busy yourselves with this, you damned walruses, while the rest of use proceed with the libretto.” [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges action while others are occupied with trivialities, implying focus on greater purpose despite distractions. **In simple terms:** Focus on important tasks while others fuss. Key Takeaway Prioritize your mission. Themes focus determination distraction Mood determined assertive Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - project management - political activism - creative writing - parenting Key Concepts leadership purpose Questions to Reflect On - What distractions pull you away? - How can you stay on track? A Different Perspective Distractions can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Walrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walrus/) ## Related quotes > [In the opera we call love, the libretto is almost nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-the-opera-we-call-love-the-libretto-is-almost-nothing/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [A libretto that should never have been accepted on a subject that should never have been chosen bya man who should never have attempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/a-libretto-that-should-never-have-been-accepted-on-a-subject-that/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [“60 beats in minutes of mine, is not the living aspiration. Libretto is the only pulse doing of voice, visions, vapoursation in me is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-finos/60-beats-in-minutes-of-mine-is-not-the-living-aspiration-libretto-is/) Peter\_Finos > [“...if we aren't learning something from a new experience, it's usually because we aren't paying attention. Or we're following the wrong libretto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/if-we-aren-t-learning-something-from-a-new-experience-it-s-usually/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Porgy is...an interesting example of what can be done by talent in spite of a bad setup. With a libretto that should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/porgy-is-an-interesting-example-of-what-can-be-done-by-talent-in/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [The emotion is the music and the script is the libretto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/the-emotion-is-the-music-and-the-script-is-the-libretto/) [Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/) > [The first line (of I Am The Walrus) was written on one acid trip one weekend. The second line was written on the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-first-line-of-i-am-the-walrus-was-written-on-one-acid-trip-one/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [There is not one thing that's Beatle music. How can they talk about it like that? What is Beatle music? Walrus or Penny Lane?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/there-is-not-one-thing-that-s-beatle-music-how-can-they-talk-about-it/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“She was like one of those dogs who’ve tasted human blood and can’t stop biting. A walrus who’d tasted blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-was-like-one-of-those-dogs-who-ve-tasted-human-blood-and-can-t/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I go to restaurants and the groups always play "Yesterday." I even signed a guy's violin in Spain after he played us "Yesterday." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-go-to-restaurants-and-the-groups-always-play-yesterday-i-even/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“What. Are. Thooooooose?" the walrus moaned. On the holo-screen airing the happenings in Genevieve Square, a swarm of scorpspitters released by the Glass Eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/what-are-thooooooose-the-walrus-moaned-on-the-holo-screen-airing-the/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [“She’s the kind of girl who’d beat a guy to death with a walrus pecker if he crossed her,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-cameron/she-s-the-kind-of-girl-who-d-beat-a-guy-to-death-with-a-walrus-pecker/) [Marc Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-cameron/) > [I am the eggman They are the eggmen! I am the walrus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-am-the-eggman-they-are-the-eggmen-i-am-the-walrus/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The time has come, the Walrus said, To talk of many things: Of shoesand shipsand sealing-wax Of cabbagesand kings And why the sea is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-time-has-come-the-walrus-said-to-talk-of-many-things-of-shoesand/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [A loaf of bread, the Walrus said, Is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed-- Now if you're ready,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/a-loaf-of-bread-the-walrus-said-is-what-we-chiefly-need-pepper-and/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More by John Barrymore > [America is the country where you can buy a lifetime supply of aspirin For one dollar and use it up in two weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/america-is-the-country-where-you-can-buy-a-lifetime-supply-of-aspirin/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [In Genesis, it says that it is not good for a man to be alone; but sometimes it is a great relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/in-genesis-it-says-that-it-is-not-good-for-a-man-to-be-alone-but/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [My head is buried in the sands of tomorrow, while my tail feathers are singed by the hot sun of today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/my-head-is-buried-in-the-sands-of-tomorrow-while-my-tail-feathers-are/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [I would like to find a stew that will give me heartburn immediately, instead of at three o clock in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/i-would-like-to-find-a-stew-that-will-give-me-heartburn-immediately/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [ Mr. \[John\] Barrymore's smile was the smile of an actor who hates actors, and who knows that he is going to kill two or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/mr-john-barrymore-s-smile-was-the-smile-of-an-actor-who-hates-actors/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/why-is-there-so-much-month-left-at-the-end-of-the-money/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [When archaeologists discover the missing arms of Venus de Milo, they will find she was wearing boxing gloves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/when-archaeologists-discover-the-missing-arms-of-venus-de-milo-they/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [“happiness always sneaks in through a door you din't know you left open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/happiness-always-sneaks-in-through-a-door-you-din-t-know-you-left-open/) [john barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [He neither drank, smoked, nor rode a bicycle. Living frugally, saving his money, he died early, surrounded by greedy relatives. It was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/he-neither-drank-smoked-nor-rode-a-bicycle-living-frugally-saving-his/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [If it isn't the sheriff, it's the finance company; I've got more attachments on me than a vacuum cleaner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/if-it-isn-t-the-sheriff-it-s-the-finance-company-i-ve-got-more/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Method acting? There are quite a few methods. Mine involves a lot of talent, a glass, and some cracked ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/method-acting-there-are-quite-a-few-methods-mine-involves-a-lot-of/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Paper napkins never return from a laundry - nor love from a trip to the law courts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/paper-napkins-never-return-from-a-laundry-nor-love-from-a-trip-to-the/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [My wife is the kind of girl who will not go anywhere without her mother, and her mother will go anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/my-wife-is-the-kind-of-girl-who-will-not-go-anywhere-without-her/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most amount of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/sex-the-thing-that-takes-up-the-least-amount-of-time-and-causes-the/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [The good die young, because they see it's no use living if you have got to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/the-good-die-young-because-they-see-it-s-no-use-living-if-you-have/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) [Explore all 31 John Barrymore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) ## 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": "Busy yourselves with this, you damned walruses, while the rest of use proceed with the libretto.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Barrymore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-walruses-while-the-rest-of-use/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-walruses-while-the-rest-of-use/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/john-barrymore-20453_busy_busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-wal_2116377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Busy yourselves with this, you damned walruses, while the rest of use proceed with the libretto.” — John Barrymore", "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": "John Barrymore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Busy yourselves with this, you damned...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-walruses-while-the-rest-of-use/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/busy-yourselves-with-this-you-damned-walruses-while-the-rest-of-use/#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 } } ] } ```