--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...desert time refused to structure…" description: "\"“...desert time refused to structure itself. It preferred instead to flow in curlicues, vortices and tunnels,...”\" — Robyn Davidson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/robyn-davidson-7837_desert_desert-time-refused-to-structure-itself_578815.png" --- # ...desert time refused to structure itself. It preferred… ![“...desert time refused to structure itself. It preferred instead to flow in curlicues, vortices and tunnels,...” quote by Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/robyn-davidson-7837_desert_desert-time-refused-to-structure-itself_578815.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/robyn-davidson-7837_desert_desert-time-refused-to-structure-itself_578815.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/robyn-davidson-7837_desert_desert-time-refused-to-structure-itself_578815.png) > ““...desert time refused to structure itself. It preferred instead to flow in curlicues, vortices and tunnels,...”” [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desert time resists rigid schedules, favoring fluid, natural patterns of movement. **In simple terms:** Desert flows, not forced. Key Takeaway Adapt plans to natural rhythms. Themes nature flexibility time Mood contemplative inspired Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - hiking - long‑term projects - creative processes - urban planning Key Concepts ecology philosophy adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate fluidity into structured tasks? - What benefits arise from moving with natural cycles? A Different Perspective May conflict with strict deadlines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Desert Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert-time-4762056/) [Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refused/) [Time Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-refused-1601595/) [Vortices Tunnels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vortices-tunnels-4762057/) ## Related quotes > [“Even though I was growing up in a land that had been tormented since the dawn of time, I refused to consider the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/even-though-i-was-growing-up-in-a-land-that-had-been-tormented-since/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“Most unwilling was she to awaken from such a dream of felicity, to comprehend all the unhappy truths which attended the affair; and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/most-unwilling-was-she-to-awaken-from-such-a-dream-of-felicity-to/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I love the desert and its incomparable sense of space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/i-love-the-desert-and-its-incomparable-sense-of-space/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [“I did not want to have a descendent to recite an elegy one day for me in the desert.” “What’s that?” “I wouldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-al-koni/i-did-not-want-to-have-a-descendent-to-recite-an-elegy-one-day-for-me/) [Ibrahim al-Koni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-al-koni/) > [“But what would be our readers’ reaction if we simply refused to get to the bottom of that question?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/but-what-would-be-our-readers-reaction-if-we-simply-refused-to-get-to/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [“He had been willing to die because he refused to take a life. But me, I contemplated shooting everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/he-had-been-willing-to-die-because-he-refused-to-take-a-life-but-me-i/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [I was born to love - but none of you wanted to believe it, and that misunderstanding was crucial in forming my character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-was-born-to-love-but-none-of-you-wanted-to-believe-it-and-that/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [“The candidate who billed himself as a billionaire—ten times over—refused even to invest his own money in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-candidate-who-billed-himself-as-a-billionaire-ten-times-over/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [I draw the line at some things. Some things I won't do for any amount of money. Like for instance, there's a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-draw-the-line-at-some-things-some-things-i-won-t-do-for-any-amount/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [“She refused to know love again. The thought of another heartbreak was far too much for her to bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-a-o-neal/she-refused-to-know-love-again-the-thought-of-another-heartbreak-was/) [Terry a O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-a-o-neal/) > [Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/every-champion-was-once-a-contender-that-refused-to-give-up/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I had only two offers of marriage in my life, and I refused both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/i-had-only-two-offers-of-marriage-in-my-life-and-i-refused-both/) [Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/) ## More by Robyn Davidson > [There are some moments in life that are like pivots around which your existence turns—small intuitive flashes, when you know you have done something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/there-are-some-moments-in-life-that-are-like-pivots-around-which-your/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [Australia's arid western region, from the town of Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean coast, is a beautiful, haunting, but largely empty land. Dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/australia-s-arid-western-region-from-the-town-of-alice-springs-to-the/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [The two things I did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/the-two-things-i-did-learn-were-that-you-are-as-powerful-and-strong/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [That odd idea that one person can go to a foreign part and in this rather odd voice describe it to the folks back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/that-odd-idea-that-one-person-can-go-to-a-foreign-part-and-in-this/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [When I was young, I thought I wouldn't be a good mother. Now I think I would be, but I'm too long in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/when-i-was-young-i-thought-i-wouldn-t-be-a-good-mother-now-i-think-i/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [I think people are frightened by different things, so I don't see myself as particularly courageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/i-think-people-are-frightened-by-different-things-so-i-don-t-see/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [“... It is better to proceed with one's duty in the service of others than wallow in the pain attachments bring”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/it-is-better-to-proceed-with-one-s-duty-in-the-service-of-others-than/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [I try to factor solitude into my life because more and more, that's becoming a very precious and rare commodity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/i-try-to-factor-solitude-into-my-life-because-more-and-more-that-s/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [I think a lot of writers are unrealistic about having their books translated into film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/i-think-a-lot-of-writers-are-unrealistic-about-having-their-books/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [Some of us just don't want to be famous ... anonymity cannot be bought for any price, once you have lost it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/some-of-us-just-don-t-want-to-be-famous-anonymity-cannot-be-bought/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [I just don't see myself as a travel writer. I can't. I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/i-just-don-t-see-myself-as-a-travel-writer-i-can-t-i-don-t/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [The truth is I'm not really interested in travel writing as it's generally conceived, and even less so in female travel writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/the-truth-is-i-m-not-really-interested-in-travel-writing-as-it-s/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [Its highest point was The Worst Journey in the World. Then you see this decline, and this harking back, using the 19th-century form when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/its-highest-point-was-the-worst-journey-in-the-world-then-you-see/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [By now I was utterly deprogrammed. I walked along naked usually, clothes being not only putrid but unnecessary. My skin had been baked a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/by-now-i-was-utterly-deprogrammed-i-walked-along-naked-usually/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Find out what you're capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/think-for-yourself-act-for-yourself-find-out-what-you-re-capable-of/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) [Explore all 87 Robyn Davidson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) ## More Desert quotes > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“And now you will ask me about the musicians that played for the jackalope wives. Well, if you can find a place where they’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-vernon/and-now-you-will-ask-me-about-the-musicians-that-played-for-the/) [Ursula Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-vernon/) > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I did not support Operation Desert Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-did-not-support-operation-desert-fox/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/there-is-nothing-in-the-desert-and-no-man-needs-nothing/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [Who’s to say that it takes something like a drug to mess with your perception of reality? How did Hitler deceive a nation? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/who-s-to-say-that-it-takes-something-like-a-drug-to-mess-with-your/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“If you build a road in the desert and then leave it to its fate, the desert sands will swallow that road! The same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-build-a-road-in-the-desert-and-then-leave-it-to-its-fate-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Hulkamania is like a single grain of sand in the Sahara desert that is Nacho Madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macho-man-randy-savage/hulkamania-is-like-a-single-grain-of-sand-in-the-sahara-desert-that/) [Macho Man Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macho-man-randy-savage/) > [“The Estate of Solemnity By right, it reigns in its places- in long beards Of spanish moss hanging from a live oak On a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattiann-rogers/the-estate-of-solemnity-by-right-it-reigns-in-its-places-in-long/) [Pattiann Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattiann-rogers/) > [The earth itself assures us it is a living entity. Deep below surface one can hear its slow pulse, feel its vibrant rhythm. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-waters/the-earth-itself-assures-us-it-is-a-living-entity-deep-below-surface/) [Frank Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-waters/) [Browse all 1,675 Desert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...desert time refused to structure itself. 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