--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It couldn’t last. Everyone was just…" description: "\"“It couldn’t last. Everyone was just killing time. But if all they did was kill time, time would end up killing them.”\" — Michael Grant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/michael-grant-1391_industriousness_it-couldn-t-last-everyone-was-just-killi_1715198.png" --- # It couldn’t last. Everyone was just killing time. But if… ![“It couldn’t last. Everyone was just killing time. But if all they did was kill time, time would end up killing them.” quote by Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/michael-grant-1391_industriousness_it-couldn-t-last-everyone-was-just-killi_1715198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/michael-grant-1391_industriousness_it-couldn-t-last-everyone-was-just-killi_1715198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/michael-grant-1391_industriousness_it-couldn-t-last-everyone-was-just-killi_1715198.png) > ““It couldn’t last. Everyone was just killing time. But if all they did was kill time, time would end up killing them.”” [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time spent idly can become destructive, ultimately harming those who waste it. **In simple terms:** Killing time can backfire. Key Takeaway Use time purposefully. Themes time productivity consequences Mood cautionary philosophical Type literary motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - daily scheduling Key Concepts existential risk life purpose Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate leisure from waste? - What activities give your time meaning? A Different Perspective Not all idle time is harmful; rest is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [But if all they did was kill time, time would end up killing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/but-if-all-they-did-was-kill-time-time-would-end-up-killing-them/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [“Sam had a DVD in his hand. He said, "Yesterday I sent Edilio to the power plant to get two things. 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Or maybe not so slowly, since you're talking to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/paranoia-sam-muttered-you-re-going-slowly-nuts-dude-or-maybe-not-so/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [“I don’t care what your excuse is, I don’t care what you think God told you to do, if you are in the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/i-don-t-care-what-your-excuse-is-i-don-t-care-what-you-think-god-told/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [“I know something must be very wrong, or just possibly very right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/i-know-something-must-be-very-wrong-or-just-possibly-very-right/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [“The computer's password protected. I try the basics: 1,2,3,4. QWERTY. YTREWQ, which is qwerty backward. PASSWORD. A few others. 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