--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dallas pointed out to me once that there…" description: "\"“Dallas pointed out to me once that there is a world of difference between being busy and being hurried. Being busy is an outward condition, a conditio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg" --- # Dallas pointed out to me once that there is a world of… ![“Dallas pointed out to me once that there is a world of difference between being busy and being hurried. Being busy is an outward condition, a condition of the body. It occurs when we have many things to do. Busy-ness is inevitable in modern culture. If you are alive today in North America, you are…” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg) > ““Dallas pointed out to me once that there is a world of difference between being busy and being hurried. Being busy is an outward condition, a condition of the body. It occurs when we have many things to do. Busy-ness is inevitable in modern culture. If you are alive today in North America, you are a busy person. There are limits to how much busy-ness we can tolerate, so we wisely find ways to slow down whenever we can. We take vacations, we sit in a La-Z-Boy® with a good book, we enjoy a leisurely meal with friends. By itself, busy-ness is not lethal. Being hurried is an inner condition, a condition of the soul. It means to be so preoccupied with myself and my life that I am unable to be fully present with God, with myself, and with other people. I am unable to occupy this present moment. Busy-ness migrates to hurry when we let it squeeze God out of our lives. Note the differences between the two: Busy Hurried A full schedule Preoccupied Many activities Unable to be fully present An outward condition An inner condition of the soul Physically demanding Spiritually draining Reminds me I need God Causes me to be unavailable to God I cannot live in the kingdom of God with a hurried soul. I cannot rest in God with a hurried soul.”” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Busy describes many external tasks; hurried describes an inner, soul‑draining preoccupation that blocks presence with God and others. **In simple terms:** Busy is external, hurried is internal and spiritually draining Key Takeaway Recognize and limit inner hurry to stay present Themes balance presence spiritual health Mood reflective calm Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - Work overload - family time - personal prayer - vacation - digital detox Key Concepts Mindfulness presence spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you tell when busyness turns into hurry? - What practices help you stay present with God? A Different Perspective Hurry can arise even with few tasks if mindset stays preoccupied ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-ness-2132242/) [Busy person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-person/) [Difference Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-busy-3881637/) [Differences Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences-busy-5091112/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Hurried Inner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurried-inner-5091113/) [Kingdom of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-god/) [Live Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-today/) [Means Preoccupied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-preoccupied-5091114/) [North america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-america/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) ## Related quotes > [Great peace is found in little busy-ness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/great-peace-is-found-in-little-busy-ness/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Understand the difference between being busy and being effective,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie/understand-the-difference-between-being-busy-and-being-effective/) [Nikkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie/) > [Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference. Being busy is a form of mental laziness-lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/slow-down-and-remember-this-most-things-make-no-difference-being-busy-2/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [“Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference. Being busy is a form of laziness—lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being overwhelmed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/slow-down-and-remember-this-most-things-make-no-difference-being-busy/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [Did you know there's a difference between being busy and being fruitful? Did you ever stop to think that just being busy - running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/did-you-know-there-s-a-difference-between-being-busy-and-being/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I'm normally the least busy person I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-m-normally-the-least-busy-person-i-know/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [Be a busy person. People who are active are often much more at peace with themselves than those who are inactive and inert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-a-busy-person-people-who-are-active-are-often-much-more-at-peace/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Keep busy at something: a busy person never has time to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/keep-busy-at-something-a-busy-person-never-has-time-to-be-unhappy/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/if-you-want-something-done-ask-a-busy-person-to-do-it-the-more-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [“I ended up choosing her preschool party based on the fact that it was the closest to our house and would cause me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffy-mead-ferro/i-ended-up-choosing-her-preschool-party-based-on-the-fact-that-it-was/) [Muffy Mead-Ferro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffy-mead-ferro/) > [The more you do, the more you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-more-you-do-the-more-you-can-do/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“We all know that the way to get something done is to give it to a busy person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-putnam/we-all-know-that-the-way-to-get-something-done-is-to-give-it-to-a/) [Robert D. Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-putnam/) > [I'm busier than a busy person. People aren't scared to play this raucous, harsh music over radio speakers, so I think it's the perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-newsted/i-m-busier-than-a-busy-person-people-aren-t-scared-to-play-this/) [Jason Newsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-newsted/) > [I'm a busy person, my time is precious, so I don't have time for bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-a-busy-person-my-time-is-precious-so-i-don-t-have-time-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter how busy a person is, if they really care, they will always find time for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-busy-a-person-is-if-they-really-care-they-will-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/) [Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dallas pointed out to me once that there is a world of difference between being busy and being hurried. Being busy is an outward condition, a condition of the body. It occurs when we have many things to do. Busy-ness is inevitable in modern culture. If you are alive today in North America, you are a busy person. There are limits to how much busy-ness we can tolerate, so we wisely find ways to slow down whenever we can. We take vacations, we sit in a La-Z-Boy® with a good book, we enjoy a leisurely meal with friends. By itself, busy-ness is not lethal. Being hurried is an inner condition, a condition of the soul. It means to be so preoccupied with myself and my life that I am unable to be fully present with God, with myself, and with other people. I am unable to occupy this present moment. Busy-ness migrates to hurry when we let it squeeze God out of our lives. Note the differences between the two: Busy Hurried A full schedule Preoccupied Many activities Unable to be fully present An outward condition An inner condition of the soul Physically demanding Spiritually draining Reminds me I need God Causes me to be unavailable to God I cannot live in the kingdom of God with a hurried soul. I cannot rest in God with a hurried soul.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there-is-a-world-of-difference/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there-is-a-world-of-difference/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/john-ortberg-932_busy_dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there_631941.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dallas pointed out to me once that there is a world of difference between being busy and being hurried…” — John Ortberg", "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 Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Dallas pointed out to me once...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there-is-a-world-of-difference/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/dallas-pointed-out-to-me-once-that-there-is-a-world-of-difference/#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 } } ] } ```