--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His existence had always been…" description: "\"“His existence had always been comfortable, he had always held a clear picture of himself, his duties, and his place in a world. He saw that world as a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/neal-shusterman-412_doomsday_his-existence-had-always-been-comfortabl_2448555.png" --- # His existence had always been comfortable, he had always… ![“His existence had always been comfortable, he had always held a clear picture of himself, his duties, and his place in a world. He saw that world as a place so full of turning gears he had no hope of comprehending how things fit together, so why even try? Now things were different, however. Now he…” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/neal-shusterman-412_doomsday_his-existence-had-always-been-comfortabl_2448555.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/neal-shusterman-412_doomsday_his-existence-had-always-been-comfortabl_2448555.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/neal-shusterman-412_doomsday_his-existence-had-always-been-comfortabl_2448555.png) > ““His existence had always been comfortable, he had always held a clear picture of himself, his duties, and his place in a world. He saw that world as a place so full of turning gears he had no hope of comprehending how things fit together, so why even try? Now things were different, however. Now he wasn’t just looking out from inside of the clockwork. Instead, he was actually seeing the final motion of the escapement—the ticking hands of the clock itself. And it was a doomsday clock. Both his feline and human instincts told him to let it be. It was not his problem, or his place to interfere. If the living world was destined to fall, let it happen, let it pass into history once and for all. Who was he to try to save it? But on the other hand, if the living world were lost, then there would never again be great cats to furjack . . . and couldn’t it be that hearing the actual ticking of the clock gave one the responsibility to stop it?”” [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shifts from passive observer to active participant, recognizing that awareness creates responsibility to act against looming disaster. **In simple terms:** Seeing the problem makes you feel compelled to help. Key Takeaway Act when you realize your impact. Themes responsibility awakening choice destiny intervention Mood anxious determined reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - environmental crisis - personal growth - leadership decisions - moral dilemmas - overcoming apathy Key Concepts existentialism agency ethical duty Questions to Reflect On - What will you do when you notice a crisis? - Can one person truly change the world? A Different Perspective He may feel powerless; not all problems can be solved alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock Doomsday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock-doomsday-550147/) [Clock Feline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock-feline-550150/) [Doomsday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doomsday/) [Doomsday Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doomsday-clock-550148/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Ticking Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ticking-clock-550149/) ## Related quotes > [“In the half-century of his life, a tick on the Doomsday clock, he had borne witness to the most unbelievable technological advances. He had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/in-the-half-century-of-his-life-a-tick-on-the-doomsday-clock-he-had/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [I was always aware of the ticking clock of time, always. I was very aware that I had a lot to do, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-was-always-aware-of-the-ticking-clock-of-time-always-i-was-very/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [“Sadder than a ticking clock, the moments without you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-geddes/sadder-than-a-ticking-clock-the-moments-without-you/) [john j geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-geddes/) > [“The ticking of the clock has gotten so loud." - 74”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-romm/the-ticking-of-the-clock-has-gotten-so-loud-74/) [Robin Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-romm/) > [“Time goes marching on. Many an empire has come and gone. Yet we remain. Watching the ticking clock and the sifting sands of time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holdsworth/time-goes-marching-on-many-an-empire-has-come-and-gone-yet-we-remain/) [David Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holdsworth/) > [“Just like the beating of the heart of a man...so is the ticking of a clock...and just like the ticking of a clock...so is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unauthor/just-like-the-beating-of-the-heart-of-a-man-so-is-the-ticking-of-a/) [unauthor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unauthor/) > [“The ticking of the clock Marring the deafening silence, Time's footsteps toward an end Or a beginning. - M. White”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/staci-hart/the-ticking-of-the-clock-marring-the-deafening-silence-time-s/) [Staci Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/staci-hart/) > [I feel the ticking clock. And at times, I've said if I don't dance, I'd rather die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-whelan/i-feel-the-ticking-clock-and-at-times-i-ve-said-if-i-don-t-dance-i-d/) [Wendy Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-whelan/) > [“Physical pain was easy. It would always pass in the end. All it needed was time - a ticking clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-knight/physical-pain-was-easy-it-would-always-pass-in-the-end-all-it-needed/) [Sidney Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-knight/) > [You never want to have that ticking clock and know that you had all this time and didn't use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/you-never-want-to-have-that-ticking-clock-and-know-that-you-had-all/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [“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/) > [Time was our very first king. We all live our lives to the aggressive ticking of the clock. We don't question that our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/time-was-our-very-first-king-we-all-live-our-lives-to-the-aggressive/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [“If silence of the days and darkness of the nights is the indicator of the doomsday; we are already in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-silence-of-the-days-and-darkness-of-the-nights-is-the-indicator-of/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [We had the same doomsday people when we were building the MGM Grand, same people, same doomsday. You have to ask a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-kerkorian/we-had-the-same-doomsday-people-when-we-were-building-the-mgm-grand/) [Kirk Kerkorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-kerkorian/) > [Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/gee-i-wish-we-had-one-of-them-doomsday-machines-things/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) ## More by Neal Shusterman > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“If you come anywhere near my daughter, I will see to it that you are taken apart piece by bloody piece. Do I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-come-anywhere-near-my-daughter-i-will-see-to-it-that-you-are/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/dead-kids-are-put-on-pedestals-but-mentally-ill-kids-get-hidden-under/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“And you know the darkness beyond despair, just as intimately as you know the soaring heights. Because in this and all universes, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/and-you-know-the-darkness-beyond-despair-just-as-intimately-as-you/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“It's like art, you know? Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-like-art-you-know-picasso-had-to-prove-to-the-world-he-can-paint/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The way I see it, the impossible happens all the time; but we're so good at taking it for granted, we forget it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-way-i-see-it-the-impossible-happens-all-the-time-but-we-re-so/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [If you have to ask then you don't deserve an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-have-to-ask-then-you-don-t-deserve-an-answer/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“There was never anything wrong with my life. Perhaps that was the problem... The crack in my life was the fact that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-never-anything-wrong-with-my-life-perhaps-that-was-the/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“But fate is a freak when it comes to messing with your future in ways you don't see coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-fate-is-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-messing-with-your-future-in-ways/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The sad truth about humanity, Risa was quick to realize, is that people believe what they are told. Maybe not the first time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-sad-truth-about-humanity-risa-was-quick-to-realize-is-that-people/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) [Explore all 573 Neal Shusterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## More Doomsday quotes > [Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/gee-i-wish-we-had-one-of-them-doomsday-machines-things/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [We had the same doomsday people when we were building the MGM Grand, same people, same doomsday. You have to ask a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-kerkorian/we-had-the-same-doomsday-people-when-we-were-building-the-mgm-grand/) [Kirk Kerkorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-kerkorian/) > [“If silence of the days and darkness of the nights is the indicator of the doomsday; we are already in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-silence-of-the-days-and-darkness-of-the-nights-is-the-indicator-of/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Fools, when their roof-tree falls, think it doomsday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/fools-when-their-roof-tree-falls-think-it-doomsday/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Some comments called for the inclusion of an anti-skimming device that would block unauthorized connections with the readable chip to gain access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-everett-church/some-comments-called-for-the-inclusion-of-an-anti-skimming-device/) [Ray Everett-Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-everett-church/) > [Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly, until he knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/write-it-on-your-heart-that-every-day-is-the-best-day-in-the-year-no/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The solemn and devotional ceremonies of the Piscean Age and the fear of God will give way to a friendly, intimate relationship with God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-emunds/the-solemn-and-devotional-ceremonies-of-the-piscean-age-and-the-fear/) [Stefan Emunds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-emunds/) > [“DeVontay touched his left eye and wiggled the glass prosthetic. “You got that right. My depth perception is for the birds.” “That wasn’t funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-nicholson/devontay-touched-his-left-eye-and-wiggled-the-glass-prosthetic-you/) [Scott Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-nicholson/) > [“This is what the beginning of the end of the world will look like”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/this-is-what-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-world-will-look-like/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-of-the-illusions-of-life-is-that-the-present-hour-is-not-the-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [You might prove doctrine from the Bible till doomsday, and it would merely convince a people, but would not convert them. You might read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/you-might-prove-doctrine-from-the-bible-till-doomsday-and-it-would/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [For everyone who, having no artistic sense-that is to say, no submission to subjective reality-may have the knack of reasoning about art till doomsday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/for-everyone-who-having-no-artistic-sense-that-is-to-say-no/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Doomsday is quite within our reach, if we will only stretch for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/doomsday-is-quite-within-our-reach-if-we-will-only-stretch-for-it/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [“Jesus wasn’t the first to resurrect Christ inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-emunds/jesus-wasn-t-the-first-to-resurrect-christ-inside/) [Stefan Emunds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-emunds/) > [The global economy is a doomsday machine that must be stopped and reprogrammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/the-global-economy-is-a-doomsday-machine-that-must-be-stopped-and/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) [Browse all 113 Doomsday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doomsday/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“His existence had always been comfortable, he had always held a clear picture of himself, his duties, and his place in a world. He saw that world as a place so full of turning gears he had no hope of comprehending how things fit together, so why even try? Now things were different, however. Now he wasn’t just looking out from inside of the clockwork. Instead, he was actually seeing the final motion of the escapement—the ticking hands of the clock itself. And it was a doomsday clock. Both his feline and human instincts told him to let it be. It was not his problem, or his place to interfere. If the living world was destined to fall, let it happen, let it pass into history once and for all. Who was he to try to save it? 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