--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was alive, I believed — as you do…" description: "\"“When I was alive, I believed — as you do — that time was at least as real and solid as myself, and probably more so. I said 'one o'clock' as though I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png" --- # When I was alive, I believed — as you do — that time was… ![“When I was alive, I believed — as you do — that time was at least as real and solid as myself, and probably more so. I said 'one o'clock' as though I could see it, and 'Monday' as though I could find it on the map; and I let myself be hurried along from minute to minute, day to day, year to year…” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png) > ““When I was alive, I believed — as you do — that time was at least as real and solid as myself, and probably more so. I said 'one o'clock' as though I could see it, and 'Monday' as though I could find it on the map; and I let myself be hurried along from minute to minute, day to day, year to year, as though I were actually moving from one place to another. Like everyone else, I lived in a house bricked up with seconds and minutes, weekends and New Year's Days, and I never went outside until I died, because there was no other door. Now I know that I could have walked through the walls. (...) You can strike your own time, and start the count anywhere. When you understand that — then any time at all will be the right time for you.”” [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## 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 a mental construct; we can redefine it, breaking free from rigid schedules. **In simple terms:** Time can be reshaped by perception. Key Takeaway Reframe personal timelines. Themes time perception freedom existence mindset Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal planning - creative projects - mindfulness practice - life coaching Key Concepts relativism subjectivity psychology Questions to Reflect On - How would you redefine your daily rhythm? - What freedoms arise from seeing time as fluid? A Different Perspective Changing deep may conflict with societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Year's Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-day/) ## Related quotes > [“I asked if she wanted kids. She said her clock is ticking. I said, That’s because I set it five minutes ahead when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-asked-if-she-wanted-kids-she-said-her-clock-is-ticking-i-said-that/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“mr vogeli had said eight o’clock. He had said eight, and I had waited around till then because he was Swiss and in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-trott/mr-vogeli-had-said-eight-o-clock-he-had-said-eight-and-i-had-waited/) Tom Trott > [When I started my program... there was a big clock in the corner and I looked and it said nine o'clock exactly. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hughes/when-i-started-my-program-there-was-a-big-clock-in-the-corner-and-i/) [Sarah Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hughes/) > [“School days went along. Some were made up of meanness, brutality, and heartbreak; others were bright and beautiful because of Miss Bernstone and Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/school-days-went-along-some-were-made-up-of-meanness-brutality-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [And the days went by like paper in the wind. Everything changed, then changed again. It's hard to find a friend. It's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/and-the-days-went-by-like-paper-in-the-wind-everything-changed-then/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [“The days went their way like a phantom caravan. They came out of nowhere, early in the morning, without charm or panache, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-days-went-their-way-like-a-phantom-caravan-they-came-out-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He was not in the house. He did not come back that night. Days went by, and at last she understood that he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-was-not-in-the-house-he-did-not-come-back-that-night-days-went-by/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“As the days went by, my frustration festered like an outhouse during a Jamaican summer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cormier/as-the-days-went-by-my-frustration-festered-like-an-outhouse-during-a/) [Andrew Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cormier/) > [How long time is when one is sad! Is it three years or three days since you went away?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenie-de-guerin/how-long-time-is-when-one-is-sad-is-it-three-years-or-three-days/) [Eugenie de Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenie-de-guerin/) > [I lost in the second round of the French Open and had 10 days off. I went to the Hard Rock Cafe. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-becker/i-lost-in-the-second-round-of-the-french-open-and-had-10-days-off-i/) [Boris Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-becker/) > [“It was terrible, though, when you couldn't tell people things. Olive felt this keenly as the days went by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/it-was-terrible-though-when-you-couldn-t-tell-people-things-olive/) [elizabeth strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [As the days went on, I didn't mind the games. In fact, I looked forward to them. That was the easiest part of all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/as-the-days-went-on-i-didn-t-mind-the-games-in-fact-i-looked-forward/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [“Tis not love’s going hurts my days, But that it went in little ways”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/tis-not-love-s-going-hurts-my-days-but-that-it-went-in-little-ways/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“Yesterday was one of those days when nothing went right, and I wouldn’t have noticed it if it had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-henderson/yesterday-was-one-of-those-days-when-nothing-went-right-and-i-wouldn/) Carolyn Henderson > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More by Peter S. Beagle > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Farewell,' she said. 'I hope you hear many more songs' - which was the best way she could think of to say good-bye to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/farewell-she-said-i-hope-you-hear-many-more-songs-which-was-the-best/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [He is a great enough magician to tap our most common nightmares, daydreams and twilight fancies, but he never invented them either: he found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/he-is-a-great-enough-magician-to-tap-our-most-common-nightmares/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [...no place is more enchanted than where a unicorn has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/no-place-is-more-enchanted-than-where-a-unicorn-has-been-born/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“...and it's not my place to chase around after you, fixing stuff. What I know's what I know, and it don't include putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/and-it-s-not-my-place-to-chase-around-after-you-fixing-stuff-what-i/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-most-professional-curse-ever-snarled-or-croaked-or-thundered-can/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“The baloney weighed the raven down, and the shopkeeper almost caught him as he whisked out the delicatessen door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-baloney-weighed-the-raven-down-and-the-shopkeeper-almost-caught/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Men have to have heroes, but no man can ever be as big as the need, and so a legend grows around a grain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/men-have-to-have-heroes-but-no-man-can-ever-be-as-big-as-the-need-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [A Clock is not time; it's numbers and springs. Pay it no mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/a-clock-is-not-time-it-s-numbers-and-springs-pay-it-no-mind/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/heroes-know-that-things-must-happen-when-it-is-time-for-them-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-wriggled-all-over-like-a-dog/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Where have you been?" she cried. "Damn you, where have you been?" She took a few steps toward Schmendrick, but she was looking beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/where-have-you-been-she-cried-damn-you-where-have-you-been-she-took-a/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Unicorns are not to be forgiven." The magician felt himself growing giddy with jealousy, not only of the touch but of something like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-are-not-to-be-forgiven-the-magician-felt-himself-growing/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The magician stood erect, menacing the attackers with demons, metamorphoses, paralyzing ailments, and secret judo holds. Molly picked up a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-magician-stood-erect-menacing-the-attackers-with-demons/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [You pile of stones, you waste, you desolation, I'll stuff you with misery till it comes out of your eyes. I'll change your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/you-pile-of-stones-you-waste-you-desolation-i-ll-stuff-you-with/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) [Explore all 218 Peter S. Beagle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## More Day to day quotes > [“There is a powerful difference between picturing an image that does not relate to you, and recalling something specific that you are connected with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/there-is-a-powerful-difference-between-picturing-an-image-that-does/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [I try not to look too far ahead. I'm more about living day to day and working hard. I think it's great to visualize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/i-try-not-to-look-too-far-ahead-i-m-more-about-living-day-to-day-and/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [Put not off from day to day and from cycle to cycle, is the belief that ye will succeed in obtaining the mysteries when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/put-not-off-from-day-to-day-and-from-cycle-to-cycle-is-the-belief/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I regret that there aren't more short stories in other magazines. But in a certain way, I think the disappearance of the short-story template…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorin-stein/i-regret-that-there-aren-t-more-short-stories-in-other-magazines-but/) [Lorin Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorin-stein/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [As a child, I certainly wanted to have hair that I could grow long and flip around. I no longer want that. My own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/as-a-child-i-certainly-wanted-to-have-hair-that-i-could-grow-long-and/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [Each day is a step we make towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mcauley/each-day-is-a-step-we-make-towards-eternity-and-we-shall-continue/) [Catherine McAuley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mcauley/) > [I want the government to provide the military so we don't get invaded by somebody and destroyed. I want the government to provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-want-the-government-to-provide-the-military-so-we-don-t-get-invaded/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The more aware you become, the more you shed from day to day what you have learned so that your mind is always fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-more-aware-you-become-the-more-you-shed-from-day-to-day-what-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [We forget today that Britain still depends for its livelihood and, indeed, its day-to-day survival, on the sea. But the Royal Navy is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keegan/we-forget-today-that-britain-still-depends-for-its-livelihood-and/) [John Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keegan/) > [“The woman next to you that looks really bad might be going through the toughest challenge ever with her teenage daughter; think about if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-morrison/the-woman-next-to-you-that-looks-really-bad-might-be-going-through/) Barbara Morrison > [When you are so full that there is no emptiness in you, that you have started feeling the significance of the ordinary, day-to-day existence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/when-you-are-so-full-that-there-is-no-emptiness-in-you-that-you-have/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“My experiences in the Astronaut Corps had taught me that you never know what will happen from day to day. It’s best to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/my-experiences-in-the-astronaut-corps-had-taught-me-that-you-never/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [I've never thought about the end of my career. I've had this growing motto in my life to live day to day - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/i-ve-never-thought-about-the-end-of-my-career-i-ve-had-this-growing/) [Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/) Browse all 1,000 Day to day quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I was alive, I believed — as you do — that time was at least as real and solid as myself, and probably more so. I said 'one o'clock' as though I could see it, and 'Monday' as though I could find it on the map; and I let myself be hurried along from minute to minute, day to day, year to year, as though I were actually moving from one place to another. Like everyone else, I lived in a house bricked up with seconds and minutes, weekends and New Year's Days, and I never went outside until I died, because there was no other door. Now I know that I could have walked through the walls. (...) You can strike your own time, and start the count anywhere. When you understand that — then any time at all will be the right time for you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter S. Beagle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-that-time-was-at-least-as-real/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Day to day" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-that-time-was-at-least-as-real/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-to-day_when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-th_1445947.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was alive, I believed — as you do — that time was at least as real and solid as myself, and probably…” — Peter S. Beagle", "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": "Peter S. Beagle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I was alive, I believed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-that-time-was-at-least-as-real/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/when-i-was-alive-i-believed-as-you-do-that-time-was-at-least-as-real/#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 } } ] } ```