--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is incredibly short, yet we're…" description: "\"Life is incredibly short, yet we're always told that change takes time. For a race of mortals, dicking around just isn't acceptable.\" — Ted Rall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/ted-rall-13770_acceptable_life-is-incredibly-short-yet-we-re-alway_1605733.jpg" --- # Life is incredibly short, yet we're always told that… ![“Life is incredibly short, yet we're always told that change takes time. For a race of mortals, dicking around just isn't acceptable.” quote by Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/ted-rall-13770_acceptable_life-is-incredibly-short-yet-we-re-alway_1605733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/ted-rall-13770_acceptable_life-is-incredibly-short-yet-we-re-alway_1605733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/ted-rall-13770_acceptable_life-is-incredibly-short-yet-we-re-alway_1605733.jpg) > “Life is incredibly short, yet we're always told that change takes time. For a race of mortals, dicking around just isn't acceptable.” [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life feels brief, yet we are told change is slow; urgency clashes with patience. **In simple terms:** Life is short, change seems slow. Key Takeaway Act quickly despite the illusion of slow change. Themes urgency change patience Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal growth - social activism - health decisions Key Concepts temporal perception motivational psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance urgency with realistic timelines? - What small actions can create immediate impact? A Different Perspective Changing habits often still requires time and persistence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-takes-464892/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dicking Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dicking-just-6113963/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Mortals Dicking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals-dicking-6113962/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Take time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-time/) [Takes Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“To change the world takes time; to change yourself takes courage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-lowel/to-change-the-world-takes-time-to-change-yourself-takes-courage/) [R.S. Lowel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-lowel/) > [In democracy - and the good thing about democracy, big change does not happen quickly, and you need a buy-in and a convincing, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-rauner/in-democracy-and-the-good-thing-about-democracy-big-change-does-not/) [Bruce Rauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-rauner/) > [Change always takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/change-always-takes-time/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) > [It can be frustrating that, despite widespread support for common sense gun safety measures, Congress is moving at a snail's pace. But remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/it-can-be-frustrating-that-despite-widespread-support-for-common/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [Take heart, and be patient; change takes time but it is possible, and it's way more likely if we can reach out and disagree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/take-heart-and-be-patient-change-takes-time-but-it-is-possible-and-it/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [Its a process. Its a process. Its a process. Change takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/its-a-process-its-a-process-its-a-process-change-takes-time/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [Culture change takes time, and NASA's culture is definitely improving. Based on its success, the change method is now being taken to each center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/culture-change-takes-time-and-nasa-s-culture-is-definitely-improving/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [You see, I know change I see change I embody change All we do is change Yeah, I know change We are born to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-jones/you-see-i-know-change-i-see-change-i-embody-change-all-we-do-is/) [Vinnie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-jones/) > [I think that it's an inexact science, but the trick is this: not to quit on anything too soon. All of this takes time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manfred/i-think-that-it-s-an-inexact-science-but-the-trick-is-this-not-to/) [Rob Manfred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manfred/) > [It takes time to learn to draw. It takes years, not a few weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/it-takes-time-to-learn-to-draw-it-takes-years-not-a-few-weeks/) [Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/) > [Friendship takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/friendship-takes-time/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Good software, like wine, takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-spolsky/good-software-like-wine-takes-time/) [Joel Spolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-spolsky/) > [It takes time to get a dance right, to create something memorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-astaire/it-takes-time-to-get-a-dance-right-to-create-something-memorable/) [Fred Astaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-astaire/) > [Nobody sees a flower really,it is so small. We haven't time,and to see takes time- like to have a friend takes time. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/nobody-sees-a-flower-really-it-is-so-small-we-haven-t-time-and-to-see/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More by Ted Rall > [I was reading through all these NSA programs that Snowden has revealed, and one of the ones that fascinated me was that smart TVs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-was-reading-through-all-these-nsa-programs-that-snowden-has/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [What people don't seem to ever understand is that any infrastructure that exists under your regime, in your current government, will be appropriated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/what-people-don-t-seem-to-ever-understand-is-that-any-infrastructure/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [“What you read at Columbia is Plato's Republic and Homer's Iliad. What you learn at Columbia is that reading isn't education. Education is figuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/what-you-read-at-columbia-is-plato-s-republic-and-homer-s-iliad-what/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [I'm a better editorial cartoonist by default because so many editorial cartoonists out there are so awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-m-a-better-editorial-cartoonist-by-default-because-so-many/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [“I suppose I could have been nicer when I was at Columbia. I could have been polite, respectful, turned in my papers on time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-suppose-i-could-have-been-nicer-when-i-was-at-columbia-i-could-have/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [Imagine foreign troops sitting idly, laughing as hooligans trashed the Smithsonian, stole the gold from Fort Knox and burned down the Department of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/imagine-foreign-troops-sitting-idly-laughing-as-hooligans-trashed-the/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [I think Maus I is better than Maus II. The standard here is whether or not it's as good as a great book of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-think-maus-i-is-better-than-maus-ii-the-standard-here-is-whether-or/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [When you have birds you stare at them a lot and their eyes are recessed on their head. When they look at something they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/when-you-have-birds-you-stare-at-them-a-lot-and-their-eyes-are/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [Anyone should be able to read comics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/anyone-should-be-able-to-read-comics/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [The best thing about being a cartoonist is to walk into a bar or someone's apartment and they don't know you, but they've taped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/the-best-thing-about-being-a-cartoonist-is-to-walk-into-a-bar-or/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [The experts who managed the original Marshall Plan say Afghanistan needs a commitment of at least $5 to $10 billion over 5 to 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/the-experts-who-managed-the-original-marshall-plan-say-afghanistan/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [Up until 1995, I still had a day job that I hated. I was still personally involved in things in the 90s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/up-until-1995-i-still-had-a-day-job-that-i-hated-i-was-still/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [I never consciously do any work directly influenced from any movie, unless I'm doing a parody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-never-consciously-do-any-work-directly-influenced-from-any-movie/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [I don't think anyone has written a great graphic novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-don-t-think-anyone-has-written-a-great-graphic-novel/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [I think Dilbert is actually a radical strip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/i-think-dilbert-is-actually-a-radical-strip/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) [Explore all 49 Ted Rall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/) [Harold Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-covington/) > [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/) [Sally Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-struthers/) > [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) [Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life is incredibly short, yet we're always told that change takes time. 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