Bed Quote by Robertson Davies
“I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind... At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme, I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy, and wise in spite of themselves.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Daylight Saving Debate, Robertson Davies, 1975
The author critiques daylight saving as a moralistic control, arguing it serves Puritan values rather than genuine benefit.
In simple terms: Daylight saving is seen as a moral imposition, not a health benefit.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind imposed schedules.
Themes
control
morality
tradition
timekeeping
Mood
skeptical
analytical
critical
Type
essay
opinion
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace scheduling
- school start times
- personal routines
Key Concepts
political philosophy
social engineering
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- Does daylight saving truly improve health?
- Who benefits from the schedule?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook genuine energy savings.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
