--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes I feel that life is passing me…" description: "\"“Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/martin-amis-704_feel_sometimes-i-feel-that-life-is-passing-me_2441138.jpg" --- # Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly… ![“Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It's passing, yet I'm the one who's doing all the moving. I'm not the station, I'm not the stop: I'm the train. I'm the train.” quote by Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/martin-amis-704_feel_sometimes-i-feel-that-life-is-passing-me_2441138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/martin-amis-704_feel_sometimes-i-feel-that-life-is-passing-me_2441138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/martin-amis-704_feel_sometimes-i-feel-that-life-is-passing-me_2441138.jpg) > ““Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It's passing, yet I'm the one who's doing all the moving. I'm not the station, I'm not the stop: I'm the train. I'm the train.”” [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life feels like a fast-moving train, and the speaker is the engine, not a passenger. **In simple terms:** I am the moving force in my life. Key Takeaway Own your agency. Themes identity movement control Mood introspective urgent Type philosophical metaphorical When to use this quote - career choices - personal growth - creative projects - overcoming inertia Key Concepts existentialism self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance motion with rest? - What does being “the train” mean to you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize speed, ignoring burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark - spattered wheels and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/sometimes-i-feel-that-life-is-passing-me-by-not-slowly-either-but/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Photography in our time leaves us with a grave responsibility. 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Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“barrios; each barrio has two or three gangs, and all the gangs are theoretically”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/barrios-each-barrio-has-two-or-three-gangs-and-all-the-gangs-are/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“If we all downed tools and joined hands for ten minutes and stopped believing in money, then money would no longer exist. 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The future's futures have never looked so rocky. Don't put money on it. 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Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. 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