--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time would be my friend, I told myself…" description: "\"“Time would be my friend, I told myself. Yet time, I knew even then, was my enemy.”\" — Robin Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/robin-maxwell-37652_clock_time-would-be-my-friend-i-told-myself-ye_1205152.png" --- # Time would be my friend, I told myself. Yet time, I knew… ![“Time would be my friend, I told myself. Yet time, I knew even then, was my enemy.” quote by Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/robin-maxwell-37652_clock_time-would-be-my-friend-i-told-myself-ye_1205152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/robin-maxwell-37652_clock_time-would-be-my-friend-i-told-myself-ye_1205152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/robin-maxwell-37652_clock_time-would-be-my-friend-i-told-myself-ye_1205152.png) > ““Time would be my friend, I told myself. Yet time, I knew even then, was my enemy.”” [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator attempts to befriend time, but recognizes that time simultaneously serves as a powerful adversary, highlighting its dual nature. **In simple terms:** Time can feel supportive yet be hostile. Key Takeaway Accept time’s dual role. Themes time conflict self‑reflection Mood reflective determined Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship timing - health decisions - creative projects Key Concepts temporal paradox personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile time as ally and foe? - What strategies help you work with time rather than against it? A Different Perspective Time’s inevitability can cause anxiety about control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-passing/) ## Related quotes > [Good newes may bee told at any time, but ill in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/good-newes-may-bee-told-at-any-time-but-ill-in-the-morning/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Time will say nothing but I told you so, Time only knows the price we have to pay; If I could tell you I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-will-say-nothing-but-i-told-you-so-time-only-knows-the-price-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God I'm crazy about him." "It's early yet for crazy isn't it?" "Don't you know when you know? Five minutes, five years - how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/god-i-m-crazy-about-him-it-s-early-yet-for-crazy-isn-t-it-don-t-you/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“It was interesting what you could do, when your enemy was officially your ally. And unaware you knew it was your enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-interesting-what-you-could-do-when-your-enemy-was-officially/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I went to a urologist - he told me I could go at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-london/i-went-to-a-urologist-he-told-me-i-could-go-at-any-time/) [Jay London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-london/) > [I fought in Korea, front line. I knew who the enemy were. The enemy were the people who were firing at me. And shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/i-fought-in-korea-front-line-i-knew-who-the-enemy-were-the-enemy-were/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [But that is another story and shall be told another time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/but-that-is-another-story-and-shall-be-told-another-time/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [“In 1940, we knew who we were, we knew who the enemy was, we knew the dangers and the issues," he told me when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/in-1940-we-knew-who-we-were-we-knew-who-the-enemy-was-we-knew-the/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [“... As for me, I taught the lad the real character of a rifle; and well has he paid me for it. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenimore-cooper/as-for-me-i-taught-the-lad-the-real-character-of-a-rifle-and-well-has/) [James Fenimore Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenimore-cooper/) > [“I know who you are," she said. "You're my enemy. The true believer. The righteous man with the righteous mission. The one that jails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-know-who-you-are-she-said-you-re-my-enemy-the-true-believer-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I never knew an enemy to puns who was not an ill-natured man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/i-never-knew-an-enemy-to-puns-who-was-not-an-ill-natured-man/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Somehow, Sydney had an internal clock that told her when time was up. I think it was part of her inherent ability to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/somehow-sydney-had-an-internal-clock-that-told-her-when-time-was-up-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“War was a democracy, he knew.  The enemy got a vote too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/war-was-a-democracy-he-knew-the-enemy-got-a-vote-too/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [It seems like women are always told, 'It is not your time.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/it-seems-like-women-are-always-told-it-is-not-your-time/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“Do not think that time simply flies away. Do not understand “flying” as the only function of time. If time simply flew away, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/do-not-think-that-time-simply-flies-away-do-not-understand-flying-as/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) ## More by Robin Maxwell > [“She shocked me. Truly rocked the ground beneath my feet. Made the air shimmer with her power and grace. The woman had slipped free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/she-shocked-me-truly-rocked-the-ground-beneath-my-feet-made-the-air/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [Some promises are lies we never meant to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/some-promises-are-lies-we-never-meant-to-tell/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [“Everyone knows that for a woman to conceive in the act of coition she, as well as the man. must be satisfied. Is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/everyone-knows-that-for-a-woman-to-conceive-in-the-act-of-coition-she/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [For a moment in time, a man knew me for who I was and, without reservation, loved me for who I was. How can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/for-a-moment-in-time-a-man-knew-me-for-who-i-was-and-without/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [For men love what they cannot have, and hate what they cannot control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/for-men-love-what-they-cannot-have-and-hate-what-they-cannot-control/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [Danger sweetens the brew. Makes it more delicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/danger-sweetens-the-brew-makes-it-more-delicious/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [“Am I worthy of Juliet, I wondered, worthy as my father was of my mother?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/am-i-worthy-of-juliet-i-wondered-worthy-as-my-father-was-of-my-mother/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [Am I pretty? I must be, I thought, for all girls in love are pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/am-i-pretty-i-must-be-i-thought-for-all-girls-in-love-are-pretty/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [“You cannot know" he said simply. "Very little is certain in this life, my lady.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/you-cannot-know-he-said-simply-very-little-is-certain-in-this-life-my/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [“Oh love how can we not be together?' Romeo cried. "Without the sight of you every day, the smell, the taste of you, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/oh-love-how-can-we-not-be-together-romeo-cried-without-the-sight-of/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) > [If you find a way to write with open heart to Diary, a friend with Truth, no detail spared, your tome like Petrarch’s works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-maxwell/if-you-find-a-way-to-write-with-open-heart-to-diary-a-friend-with/) [Robin Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) [Explore all 12 Robin Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-maxwell/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) Levi Keely > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Time would be my friend, I told myself. 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