--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to be overly dramatic about…" description: "\"“I don't want to be overly dramatic about it, but I think people more and more wonder, is this living, or are we just going through the motions? What's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-zerzan-22725_life_i-don-t-want-to-be-overly-dramatic-about_2501211.jpg" --- # I don't want to be overly dramatic about it, but I think… ![“I don't want to be overly dramatic about it, but I think people more and more wonder, is this living, or are we just going through the motions? What's happening? Is everything being leached out of life? Is the whole texture and values and everything kind of draining away?” quote by John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-zerzan-22725_life_i-don-t-want-to-be-overly-dramatic-about_2501211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-zerzan-22725_life_i-don-t-want-to-be-overly-dramatic-about_2501211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-zerzan-22725_life_i-don-t-want-to-be-overly-dramatic-about_2501211.jpg) > ““I don't want to be overly dramatic about it, but I think people more and more wonder, is this living, or are we just going through the motions? What's happening? Is everything being leached out of life? Is the whole texture and values and everything kind of draining away?”” [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People feel life is losing depth and purpose, as if values are being drained away. **In simple terms:** Life feels empty and values seem to fade. Key Takeaway Re‑engage with meaningful practices. Themes existential culture disenchantment Mood thought‑provoking somber Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - personal reflection - community building - creative expression Key Concepts philosophy social critique Questions to Reflect On - What small actions can restore personal meaning? - How can community rituals counteract cultural emptiness? A Different Perspective The view may overlook personal agency in creating meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Draining Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draining-away-1063152/) [Dramatic Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic-think-434934/) [Happening Leached](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening-leached-1063153/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Overly Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overly-dramatic-1063151/) [People Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up, all my friends used to say 'Naturi, you are so dramatic!' and I would think to myself, 'Thank you!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/growing-up-all-my-friends-used-to-say-naturi-you-are-so-dramatic-and/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [I have always been dramatic, so I think being an actress comes naturally to me. I think I am pretty good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/i-have-always-been-dramatic-so-i-think-being-an-actress-comes/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [“He could feel certainty draining away. And he’d always been certain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-could-feel-certainty-draining-away-and-he-d-always-been-certain/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“In the last week I felt her withdrawing. What was once everywhere, an ocean I imagined myself to be drowning in, was now barely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/in-the-last-week-i-felt-her-withdrawing-what-was-once-everywhere-an/) [Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/) > [I was a very romantic, overly dramatic young lady, which served me well as a songwriter. Especially as someone who had to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wiedlin/i-was-a-very-romantic-overly-dramatic-young-lady-which-served-me-well/) [Jane Wiedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wiedlin/) > [I don't want to make any general statements, but I feel like so many stories that are presented as being about humanity and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellar-coltrane/i-don-t-want-to-make-any-general-statements-but-i-feel-like-so-many/) [Ellar Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellar-coltrane/) > [“It’s like Mark Twain once said to his wife, Olivia: “How many times do I have to say it—over the top!” He wasn’t talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-like-mark-twain-once-said-to-his-wife-olivia-how-many-times-do-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Your life may be draining away. Every day you may be getting older instead of younger, more frustrated instead of happier. Your job, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/your-life-may-be-draining-away-every-day-you-may-be-getting-older/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Smile! Because it makes people wonder what the heck youre thinking about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/smile-because-it-makes-people-wonder-what-the-heck-youre-thinking/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [There are three kinds of people in this world: people who make it happen, people who watch what happens, and people who wonder what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/there-are-three-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-make-it/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [When I see a large group of people, I wonder how many of them will eventually require autopsies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/when-i-see-a-large-group-of-people-i-wonder-how-many-of-them-will/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Curious people are intersting people, I wonder why that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/curious-people-are-intersting-people-i-wonder-why-that-is/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [People wonder why they have so little of God when God has so little of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/people-wonder-why-they-have-so-little-of-god-when-god-has-so-little/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [I look at some people and wonder Why has someone not shot you yet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-look-at-some-people-and-wonder-why-has-someone-not-shot-you-yet/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“People can wonder and ponder and imagine all they want. But their curiosity does not entitle them to enter my world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/people-can-wonder-and-ponder-and-imagine-all-they-want-but-their/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) ## More by John Zerzan > [Republicans don't want to shrink government. They want more and more military, more and more surveillance. They'd like to have the government banning gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/republicans-don-t-want-to-shrink-government-they-want-more-and-more/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [“People are not more connected, despite the billions in ads from the IT companies. Why call it community? It's just technology. The machines are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/people-are-not-more-connected-despite-the-billions-in-ads-from-the-it/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [We are lost, but other animals point to the right road. They are the right road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/we-are-lost-but-other-animals-point-to-the-right-road-they-are-the/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [I think pushing the ideas is important. I wouldn't say it's more important than action. You can't really separate the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/i-think-pushing-the-ideas-is-important-i-wouldn-t-say-it-s-more/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [The pleasure of authenticity exists only against the grain of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/the-pleasure-of-authenticity-exists-only-against-the-grain-of-society/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [It is our fall from a simplicity and fullness of life directly experienced, from the sensuous moment of knowing, which leaves a gap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/it-is-our-fall-from-a-simplicity-and-fullness-of-life-directly/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [We don't need more stupid ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/we-don-t-need-more-stupid-ideas/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [If we once, and for so long, lived in balance with nature and each other, we should be able to do so again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/if-we-once-and-for-so-long-lived-in-balance-with-nature-and-each/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [If we once and for so long lived in balance with nature and each other, we should be able to do so again. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/if-we-once-and-for-so-long-lived-in-balance-with-nature-and-each-2/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [If you have a problem in mass society, you call the cops. The experts. You no longer have any operative connection with yourself or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/if-you-have-a-problem-in-mass-society-you-call-the-cops-the-experts/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [We have the freedom to choose between brand A, brand B, and brand C. That´s about it for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/we-have-the-freedom-to-choose-between-brand-a-brand-b-and-brand-c/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [The liberty that remains to us is essentially the freedom to choose among brands A, B, and C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/the-liberty-that-remains-to-us-is-essentially-the-freedom-to-choose/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [I do what I do and hope that it might connect with people who are thinking along the same lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/i-do-what-i-do-and-hope-that-it-might-connect-with-people-who-are/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [Never before have people been so infantalized, made so dependant on the machine for everything; as the earth rapidly approaches its extinction due to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/never-before-have-people-been-so-infantalized-made-so-dependant-on/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [There's a hollowness to civilized life. It doesn't appeal to people, and some people react with extreme violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/there-s-a-hollowness-to-civilized-life-it-doesn-t-appeal-to-people/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) [Explore all 27 John Zerzan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don't want to be overly dramatic about it, but I think people more and more wonder, is this living, or are we just going through the motions? 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