Clock Quote by Norman Mailer
“Somerset Maugham ... wrote somewhere that "Nobody is any better than he ought to be."... I carried it along with me as a working philosophy, but I suppose that finally I would have to take exception to the thought ... or else the universe is just an elaborate clock.”
About This Quote
The quote suggests that people are inherently limited to their nature, and that clinging to this idea may reduce the universe to a deterministic mechanism.
In simple terms: People can’t be better than they are; seeing this as a clock simplifies existence.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about personal growth and cosmic order.
Themes
philosophy
determinism
self
existentialism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal development
- philosophical debate
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
human nature
free will
universal order
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we have the power to exceed our nature?
- How does seeing the universe as a clock affect motivation?
A Different Perspective
The view may ignore potential for change and agency.
