Affair Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Time, which shows so vacant, indivisible, and divine in its coming, is slit and peddled into trifles and tatters. A door is to bepainted, a lock to be repaired. I want wood, or oil, or meal, or salt; the house smokes, or I have a headache; then the tax; and an affair to be transacted with a man without heart or brains; and the stinging recollection of an injurious or very awkward word,--these eat up the hours.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self‑Reliance, 1841
Time is wasted on trivialities; neglect of deeper needs leads to a fragmented life.
In simple terms: Time wasted on trifles.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize meaningful pursuits.
Themes
time
productivity
meaning
Mood
reflective
urgent
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- time management
- life coaching
- creative work
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
existentialism
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you protect time for deeper work?
- What habits reduce trivial consumption?
A Different Perspective
Modern distractions may be unavoidable.
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