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Eating lunch Quote by Norton Juster

“You see," he continued, beginning to feel better, "once there was no time at all, and people found it very inconvenient. They never knew wether they were eating lunch or dinner, and they were always missing trains. So time was invented to help them keep track of the day and get to places where…” quote by Norton Juster
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““You see," he continued, beginning to feel better, "once there was no time at all, and people found it very inconvenient. They never knew wether they were eating lunch or dinner, and they were always missing trains. So time was invented to help them keep track of the day and get to places where they should. When they began to count all the time that was available, what with 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour and 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year, it seemed as if there was much more than could ever be used. 'If there's so much of it, it couldn't be very valuable,' was the general opinion, and it soon fell into dispute. People wasted it and even gave it away. Then we were giving the job of seeing that no one wasted time again," he said, sitting up proudly. "It's hard work but a noble calling. For you see"- and now he was standing on the seat, one foot on the windshield, shouting with his ams outstretched- "it is our most valuable possession, more precious than diamonds. It marches on, it and tide wait for no man, and-" At that point in the speech the car hit a bump in the road and the watchdog collapsed in a heap on the front seat with his alarm ringing furiously.””

Norton Juster

About This Quote

Source Book: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, 1961

Time is portrayed as a precious resource that people tend to waste, prompting a call to value and protect it.

In simple terms: Time is valuable and often wasted.

Key Takeaway

Guard your time.

Themes

time value productivity society

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • personal planning
  • work habits
  • life balance
  • resource management

Key Concepts

economics philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you measure the worth of your time?
  • What habits help you avoid wasting time?
A Different Perspective

It assumes time can be strictly measured and controlled.

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