--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You see,\" he continued, beginning to feel…" description: "\"“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 w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg" --- # You see," he continued, beginning to feel better, "once… ![“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg) > ““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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bump In The Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bump-in-the-road/) [Eating lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating-lunch/) [Phantom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantom/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tock/) ## Related quotes > [“You see,” he continued, beginning to feel better, “once there was no time at all, and people found it very inconvenient. 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"Only when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/i-never-knew-words-could-be-so-confusing-milo-said-to-tock-as-he-bent-2/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Oh dear, all those words again," thought Milo as he climbed into the wagon with Tock and the cabinet members. "How are you going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/oh-dear-all-those-words-again-thought-milo-as-he-climbed-into-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [I think we need not only to eliminate the tollbooth to the middle class, I think we should knock down the tollbooth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-think-we-need-not-only-to-eliminate-the-tollbooth-to-the-middle/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You wanna have laughs? Do what I do. When I go through a tollbooth, I keep going. I tell the guy, The car behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/you-wanna-have-laughs-do-what-i-do-when-i-go-through-a-tollbooth-i/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [“If my years have taught me anything, it's this: there are many roads to God and all men and women have a right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-fisher-bryant/if-my-years-have-taught-me-anything-it-s-this-there-are-many-roads-to/) Jennifer Fisher Bryant > [Surely it was time someone invented a new plot, or that the author came out from the bushes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/surely-it-was-time-someone-invented-a-new-plot-or-that-the-author/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Respect Joy. Joy is not something that happens instead of something else important; It isn't a waste of time; It is, really, what time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sosnowski/respect-joy-joy-is-not-something-that-happens-instead-of-something/) David Sosnowski > [Time was invented by the Almighty God in order to give ideas a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-murray-butler/time-was-invented-by-the-almighty-god-in-order-to-give-ideas-a-chance/) [Nicholas Murray Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-murray-butler/) > [“Nothing is predetermined, it is determined, or was determined, or will be determined. 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Making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/making-knots-making-knots-no-word-making-knots-tick-tock-this-is-a/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Norton Juster > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“How are you going to make it move? It doesn't have a – " "Be very quiet," advised the duke, "for it goes without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-are-you-going-to-make-it-move-it-doesn-t-have-a-be-very-quiet/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [It was really written as most, I think, books are by writers - for themselves. 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"But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/as-the-cheering-continued-rhyme-leaned-forward-and-touched-milo/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [He paused again as a tear of longing rolled from cheek to lip with the sweet-salty taste of an old memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/he-paused-again-as-a-tear-of-longing-rolled-from-cheek-to-lip-with/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“Kad god se nasmiješiš, radost se oko tebe širi poput kolobara u bari, i kad god si tužan, nitko nigdje ne može biti stvarno…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/kad-god-se-nasmije-i-radost-se-oko-tebe-iri-poput-kolobara-u-bari-i/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“Why not take a few pounds of ‘happys’?” advised the salesman. “They’re much more practical—and very useful for Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/why-not-take-a-few-pounds-of-happys-advised-the-salesman-they-re-much/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [...it's not just learning that's important. It's learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/it-s-not-just-learning-that-s-important-it-s-learning-what-to-do-with/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Sometimes I find the best way of getting from one place to another is simply to erase everything and begin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/sometimes-i-find-the-best-way-of-getting-from-one-place-to-another-is/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/have-you-ever-heard-the-wonderful-silence-just-before-the-dawn-or-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [How can you see something that isn't there?" yawned the Humbug, who wasn't fully awake yet. "Sometimes, it's much simpler than seeing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-can-you-see-something-that-isn-t-there-yawned-the-humbug-who-wasn/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“I wonder where I am," said Milo in a very worried tone. "You're . . . in . . . the . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/i-wonder-where-i-am-said-milo-in-a-very-worried-tone-you-re-in-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) [Explore all 185 Norton Juster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## More Eating lunch quotes > [“You never told me your name," he says, his voice so hauntingly familiar it causes a rush of heat to blanket my skin. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/you-never-told-me-your-name-he-says-his-voice-so-hauntingly-familiar/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [I would like to see more pictures of what athletes are doing, like in People. Show athletes hanging out with each other, eating lunch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-leinart/i-would-like-to-see-more-pictures-of-what-athletes-are-doing-like-in/) [Matt Leinart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-leinart/) > [“Take time for yourself. If you feel guilty eating lunch away from your desk or lingering in a bath, let the deprogramming begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-greenlee/take-time-for-yourself-if-you-feel-guilty-eating-lunch-away-from-your/) [Gina Greenlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-greenlee/) > [Whats the point in eating when you just end up crapping it all out anyway? heard that the other day while eating lunch…lost my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/someone-at-school/whats-the-point-in-eating-when-you-just-end-up-crapping-it-all-out/) Someone At School > [In tech-land, no one cares what kind of car you drive, and frankly, they're not going to find out anyway. You're not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-price/in-tech-land-no-one-cares-what-kind-of-car-you-drive-and-frankly-they/) [Roy Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-price/) > [Planning my food a bit helps me. Knowing what I'm going to be eating for lunch helps, instead of getting hungry and then looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-alexander/planning-my-food-a-bit-helps-me-knowing-what-i-m-going-to-be-eating/) [Sasha Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-alexander/) > [I think in times of bizarre strangeness, what you can and should do is spend time with your family eating lunch or dinner. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/i-think-in-times-of-bizarre-strangeness-what-you-can-and-should-do-is/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“10- We went walking along the footpaths that snaked through vineyards and barley fields, looking down at our own shadows each preoccupied with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/10-we-went-walking-along-the-footpaths-that-snaked-through-vineyards/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I have many memories of waking up to eat breakfast that my mother carefully prepared for us and her saying, what do y'all want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-have-many-memories-of-waking-up-to-eat-breakfast-that-my-mother/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [I didn't have a good childhood because I never could get along with other kids. I was the child that sat in the corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-didn-t-have-a-good-childhood-because-i-never-could-get-along-with/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [I do know this: other countries are eating our lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-do-know-this-other-countries-are-eating-our-lunch/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [China is eating our lunch with regard to renewable energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/china-is-eating-our-lunch-with-regard-to-renewable-energy/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [I think you need to be intentional at times about your leadership - where you're eating lunch, who you're interacting with, making guys feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-think-you-need-to-be-intentional-at-times-about-your-leadership/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [Those dreams I have at night are going to drive me crazy. Last night I dreamed that little red-haired girl and I were eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/those-dreams-i-have-at-night-are-going-to-drive-me-crazy-last-night-i/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Though neither of us has entered a church in years, I propose we leave work to spend six minutes getting ashes on our foreheads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-neither-of-us-has-entered-a-church-in-years-i-propose-we-leave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 38 Eating lunch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating-lunch/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norton Juster" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-better-once-there-was-no-time-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eating lunch" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-better-once-there-was-no-time-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/norton-juster-2113_eating-lunch_you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-b_3123034.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You see,\" he continued, beginning to feel better, \"once there was no time at all, and people found it very…” — Norton Juster", "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": "Norton Juster", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You see,\" he continued, beginning to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-better-once-there-was-no-time-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-he-continued-beginning-to-feel-better-once-there-was-no-time-2/#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 } } ] } ```