--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are all right on time, except for the…" description: "\"You are all right on time, except for the fact that time is the enemy of us all, and especially of the writer.\" — Maxwell Perkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg" --- # You are all right on time, except for the fact that time… ![“You are all right on time, except for the fact that time is the enemy of us all, and especially of the writer.” quote by Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg) > “You are all right on time, except for the fact that time is the enemy of us all, and especially of the writer.” [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time constantly pressures creators, making deadlines feel hostile, especially for writers who need space to think and craft. **In simple terms:** Time feels like an enemy to writers. Key Takeaway Respect deadlines but protect creative time. Themes creativity deadline pressure writing time management Mood anxious determined Type advice reflective When to use this quote - publishing - academic writing - novel drafting - blogging Key Concepts productivity psychology artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance urgency with quality? - What rituals protect your creative flow? A Different Perspective Time pressure can stifle depth and originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [No one doubts but that we imagine time from the very fact that we imagine other bodies to be moved slower or faster or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/no-one-doubts-but-that-we-imagine-time-from-the-very-fact-that-we/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“When things get bad, you create a perceived enemy, especially when there is resounding endorsement from all quarters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namita-devidayal/when-things-get-bad-you-create-a-perceived-enemy-especially-when/) Namita Devidayal > [If you speak to anyone who's ever done time, the fact that you make it out of there alive is a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-garrison/if-you-speak-to-anyone-who-s-ever-done-time-the-fact-that-you-make-it/) [Lane Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-garrison/) > [“People who say they don't have time, in fact have no plans to do anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandan-sharma/people-who-say-they-don-t-have-time-in-fact-have-no-plans-to-do/) [Chandan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandan-sharma/) > [Clock measurement is not time itself. In fact, so opposed are they that one could argue the clock is not a synonym, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/clock-measurement-is-not-time-itself-in-fact-so-opposed-are-they-that/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [The particular aspect of time that I'm interested in is the arrow of time: the fact that the past is different from the future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/the-particular-aspect-of-time-that-i-m-interested-in-is-the-arrow-of/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [Too often, we do not know where the demarcation line is, that point where time morphs from being a friend to being a foe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/too-often-we-do-not-know-where-the-demarcation-line-is-that-point/) Pacifiersucker > [Time, which is your enemy in almost everything in this life, is your friend in writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/time-which-is-your-enemy-in-almost-everything-in-this-life-is-your/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Father Time is the enemy none of us can beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/father-time-is-the-enemy-none-of-us-can-beat/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [We're programmed to believe that time is the enemy, that it takes away from us or that it diminishes us. I have found that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/we-re-programmed-to-believe-that-time-is-the-enemy-that-it-takes-away/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [“Time is the enemy of lovers. Worse even than the frank light of day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/time-is-the-enemy-of-lovers-worse-even-than-the-frank-light-of-day/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Time is something of an enemy" she opined, "for us mortals. And yet I love it" - she fluttered her fingers in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sena-jeter-naslund/time-is-something-of-an-enemy-she-opined-for-us-mortals-and-yet-i/) [Sena Jeter Naslund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sena-jeter-naslund/) > [We somehow forget that we can choose whether to make time an enemy or an ally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/we-somehow-forget-that-we-can-choose-whether-to-make-time-an-enemy-or/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Free time is the enemy of progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-neistat/free-time-is-the-enemy-of-progress/) [Casey Neistat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-neistat/) > [“The was of the sexes will never be solved because we spend too much time in the enemy's camp.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-agnew/the-was-of-the-sexes-will-never-be-solved-because-we-spend-too-much/) Spiro Agnew ## More by Maxwell Perkins > [Writing, like drawing is an art, and whatever conveys the meaning is justified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/writing-like-drawing-is-an-art-and-whatever-conveys-the-meaning-is/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [Editors are extremely fallible people, all of them. Don't put too much trust in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/editors-are-extremely-fallible-people-all-of-them-don-t-put-too-much/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [If you are not discouraged about your writing on a regular basis, you may not be trying hard enough. Any challenging pursuit will encounter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/if-you-are-not-discouraged-about-your-writing-on-a-regular-basis-you/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [What we publishers think is that our function is to bring everything out into the open, on the theory that we have an adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/what-we-publishers-think-is-that-our-function-is-to-bring-everything/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [Of the whole public not a handful can understand the artist's point of view or the writer's conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/of-the-whole-public-not-a-handful-can-understand-the-artist-s-point/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [It is those people who know that they are right because some outside or higher power conveys the conviction to them who do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/it-is-those-people-who-know-that-they-are-right-because-some-outside/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [I do not think you should read about writing while you are writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/i-do-not-think-you-should-read-about-writing-while-you-are-writing/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [It often puzzles me when people think that matters connected with sex ought to be suppressed. Sex itself cannot be suppressed, and the efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/it-often-puzzles-me-when-people-think-that-matters-connected-with-sex/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [For real self esteem is not derived from the great things you've done, the things you won. The mark you've made - but an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/for-real-self-esteem-is-not-derived-from-the-great-things-you-ve-done/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [You have to throw yourself away when you write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/you-have-to-throw-yourself-away-when-you-write/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [The book belongs to the author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/the-book-belongs-to-the-author/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [I do not think anyone can read War and Peace too much. I read it six times...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/i-do-not-think-anyone-can-read-war-and-peace-too-much-i-read-it-six/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [Writing a novel is a very hard thing to do because it covers so long a space of time, and if you get discouraged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/writing-a-novel-is-a-very-hard-thing-to-do-because-it-covers-so-long/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [I believe the writer... should always be the final judge. I have always held to that position and have sometimes seen books hurt thereby,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/i-believe-the-writer-should-always-be-the-final-judge-i-have-always/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [Every good thing that comes is accompanied by trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/every-good-thing-that-comes-is-accompanied-by-trouble/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) [Explore all 20 Maxwell Perkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) Levi Keely > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You are all right on time, except for the fact that time is the enemy of us all, and especially of the writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maxwell Perkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the-fact-that-time-is-the-enemy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clock" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the-fact-that-time-is-the-enemy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/maxwell-perkins-27736_clock_you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the_3084110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You are all right on time, except for the fact that time is the enemy of us all, and especially of the writer.” — Maxwell Perkins", "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": "Maxwell Perkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You are all right on time,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the-fact-that-time-is-the-enemy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/you-are-all-right-on-time-except-for-the-fact-that-time-is-the-enemy/#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 } } ] } ```