--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: - he's finished with that; it's like an…" description: "\"- he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that won't tell time but won't stop neither, with the hands bent out of shape and the face bare of nu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png" --- # - he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that… ![“- he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that won't tell time but won't stop neither, with the hands bent out of shape and the face bare of numbers and the alarm bell rusted silent, an old worthless clock that just keeps ticking and cuckooing without meaning nothing.” quote by Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png) > “- he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that won't tell time but won't stop neither, with the hands bent out of shape and the face bare of numbers and the alarm bell rusted silent, an old worthless clock that just keeps ticking and cuckooing without meaning nothing.” [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A broken system persists, making noise without purpose, reflecting futile routines that lack direction or meaning. **In simple terms:** A broken clock keeps ticking without purpose. Key Takeaway Recognize and change meaningless patterns. Themes meaninglessness routine illusion resistance Mood melancholic reflective Type literary critical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace bureaucracy - personal habits - social expectations Key Concepts existentialism systems theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What routines in your life feel broken yet continue? - How can you give purpose to a stagnant situation? A Different Perspective Even a broken clock can be heard, but its sound may be ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alarms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarms/) [Bell Rusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bell-rusted-3801611/) [Bells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bells/) [Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bent/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Old Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-clock-2193074/) [Rusted Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rusted-silent-3801613/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Ticking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ticking/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) [Worthless Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless-clock-3801612/) ## Related quotes > [“He’s like an old clock the won’t tell time but won’t stop neither with the hands bend out of shape and the face bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/he-s-like-an-old-clock-the-won-t-tell-time-but-won-t-stop-neither/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“The old clock on the kitchen wall still clicked its minutes with fussy punctuality. A life had come and gone and nature had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/the-old-clock-on-the-kitchen-wall-still-clicked-its-minutes-with/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [Flying has torn apart the relationship of space and time: it uses our old clock but with new yardsticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/flying-has-torn-apart-the-relationship-of-space-and-time-it-uses-our/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [“I'm going to call you Rose," he says with resolution, working the back off an old clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-m-going-to-call-you-rose-he-says-with-resolution-working-the-back/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [“Trust me, today not even my Timex could take a licking and keep on ticking. Give me a Tonka truck and I’ll squash it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/trust-me-today-not-even-my-timex-could-take-a-licking-and-keep-on/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The issue I had with the Lightspeed albums was that usually the main purpose with them was to fulfil really dorky musical goals, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-hynes/the-issue-i-had-with-the-lightspeed-albums-was-that-usually-the-main/) [Dev Hynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-hynes/) > [It's ok to get wound up every once in awhile…that's what keeps you ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/it-s-ok-to-get-wound-up-every-once-in-awhile-that-s-what-keeps-you/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“More than the sound of my own beating heart, I miss the sound of a ticking clock. Time passes. It must pass…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/more-than-the-sound-of-my-own-beating-heart-i-miss-the-sound-of-a/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [This is your life and the clock is ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/this-is-your-life-and-the-clock-is-ticking/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [I do the 'New York Times' crossword puzzle every morning to keep the old grey matter ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-do-the-new-york-times-crossword-puzzle-every-morning-to-keep-the/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [“I'm not sure why, but when a person expects something to last forever, they don't notice the little things. It's only when the clock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-wiersbitzky/i-m-not-sure-why-but-when-a-person-expects-something-to-last-forever/) [Shannon Wiersbitzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-wiersbitzky/) > [You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/you-have-to-cherish-things-in-a-different-way-when-you-know-the-clock/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [If 1 had 1 life to live why would he wait to the last second to live it !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/militon-munney/if-1-had-1-life-to-live-why-would-he-wait-to-the-last-second-to-live/) [Militon Munney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/militon-munney/) > [I suppose it's like the ticking crocodile, isn't it? Time is chasing after all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-suppose-it-s-like-the-ticking-crocodile-isn-t-it-time-is-chasing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You get 15 minutes of fame, I hear, and I've had 14 minutes. The clock's ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/you-get-15-minutes-of-fame-i-hear-and-i-ve-had-14-minutes-the-clock-s/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) ## More by Ken Kesey > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The Grateful Dead are faster than light drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-grateful-dead-are-faster-than-light-drive/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Okay, stand outa the way. 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'What more can one ask?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-best-of-all-possible-cages-ben-stepped-back-to-regard-the-job/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [Your trouble is, you keep trying to unscrew the unscrutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/your-trouble-is-you-keep-trying-to-unscrew-the-unscrutable/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [That ain't me, that ain't my face. It wasn't even me when I was trying to be that face. I wasn't even really me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/that-ain-t-me-that-ain-t-my-face-it-wasn-t-even-me-when-i-was-trying/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [But if the strength ain't real, I recall thinking the very last thing that day, before I finally passed out, then the weakness sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/but-if-the-strength-ain-t-real-i-recall-thinking-the-very-last-thing/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“They think they know the book by its cover, but the book knows what it is. Now he knew better; if the book never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/they-think-they-know-the-book-by-its-cover-but-the-book-knows-what-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [More was revealed in a human face than a human being can bear face to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/more-was-revealed-in-a-human-face-than-a-human-being-can-bear-face-to/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/if-this-glorious-birth-to-death-hassle-is-the-only-hassle-we-are-ever/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“It's gonna burn me just that way, finally telling about all this, about the hospital, and her, and the guys- and about McMurphy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-s-gonna-burn-me-just-that-way-finally-telling-about-all-this-about/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [When Shakespeare was writing, he wasn't writing for stuff to lie on the page; it was supposed to get up and move around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/when-shakespeare-was-writing-he-wasn-t-writing-for-stuff-to-lie-on/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“And then some guy wandering as lost as you would all of a sudden be right before your eyes, his face bigger and clearer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/and-then-some-guy-wandering-as-lost-as-you-would-all-of-a-sudden-be/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) [Explore all 295 Ken Kesey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## More Alarms quotes > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [There's a statement from several members of the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans, including the Democratic leader, Charles Schumer; John McCain, the chair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/there-s-a-statement-from-several-members-of-the-senate-both-democrats/) [George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/) > [Here in the UK the audience immediately reacts and they get the fact that: "What would be the most annoying thing in the world?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/here-in-the-uk-the-audience-immediately-reacts-and-they-get-the-fact/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [It is a hard matter for a man to lie all over, nature having provided king's evidence in almost every member. The hand will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-allston/it-is-a-hard-matter-for-a-man-to-lie-all-over-nature-having-provided/) [Washington Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-allston/) > [Who then is free? the wise man who is lord over himself; Whom neither poverty nor death, nor chains alarm; strong to withstand his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/who-then-is-free-the-wise-man-who-is-lord-over-himself-whom-neither/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Modern man threw a brick through his own window in order to sell himself a burglar alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-carr/modern-man-threw-a-brick-through-his-own-window-in-order-to-sell/) [Allen Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-carr/) > [I understand the power and the alarm of words - Not those that they applaud from theatre-boxes, but those which make coffins break from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/i-understand-the-power-and-the-alarm-of-words-not-those-that-they/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [I don't know who Azazel is," he said. "Isn't he the cat from The Smurfs?" He cast about , but Isabelle just looked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-know-who-azazel-is-he-said-isn-t-he-the-cat-from-the-smurfs/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The beloved may be treacherous, greasy-headed and given to evil habits, or else it can be a man in his late forties who works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/the-beloved-may-be-treacherous-greasy-headed-and-given-to-evil-habits/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-have-past-much-of-their-lives-in-this-great-city-look-upon/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Unfortunately, I'm one of those idiots who knows everything about health and is in a constant state of alarm, and yet I continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/unfortunately-i-m-one-of-those-idiots-who-knows-everything-about/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“batteries in the smoke alarms, and since he “just happened”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lawson-timmer/batteries-in-the-smoke-alarms-and-since-he-just-happened/) [Julie Lawson Timmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lawson-timmer/) > [When I see a new face, something sets off an alarm bell inside me. 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Even though not one of those cries was ever a false alarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-am-sick-of-the-girl-who-cries-wolf-all-the-time-even-though-not-one/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) [Browse all 360 Alarms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "- he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that won't tell time but won't stop neither, with the hands bent out of shape and the face bare of numbers and the alarm bell rusted silent, an old worthless clock that just keeps ticking and cuckooing without meaning nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Kesey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old-clock-that-won-t-tell-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alarms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old-clock-that-won-t-tell-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ken-kesey-1034_alarms_he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old_1230217.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“- he's finished with that; it's like an old clock that won't tell time but won't stop neither, with the…” — Ken Kesey", "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": "Ken Kesey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "- he's finished with that; it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old-clock-that-won-t-tell-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/he-s-finished-with-that-it-s-like-an-old-clock-that-won-t-tell-time/#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 } } ] } ```