--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It simply comes down to this, Get Busy…" description: "\"It simply comes down to this, Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying.\" — Tim Robbins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg" --- # It simply comes down to this, Get Busy Living, or Get Busy… ![“It simply comes down to this, Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying.” quote by Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg) > “It simply comes down to this, Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying.” [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choose between an active life or a stagnant existence; action defines vitality. **In simple terms:** Live actively or die inside. Key Takeaway Choose purposeful action. Themes life choices motivation existence Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - health habits - relationships - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism agency meaning Questions to Reflect On - What does "busy living" mean to you? - How can you ensure your actions align with your values? A Different Perspective Choosing action without reflection can lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Get busy living, or get busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Get busy living or get busy dying…there ain't nothing inbetween”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying-there-ain-t-nothing-inbetween/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [It always comes down to just two choices. Get busy living, or get busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-always-comes-down-to-just-two-choices-get-busy-living-or-get-busy/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I don’t have much time, I have to haul corpses. I don’t have much time, I have to breath, eat, drink, sleep. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/i-don-t-have-much-time-i-have-to-haul-corpses-i-don-t-have-much-time/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [You better get busy living, because dying's a pain in the ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/you-better-get-busy-living-because-dying-s-a-pain-in-the-ass/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [If you're not busy living, you're dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-flynn/if-you-re-not-busy-living-you-re-dying/) [Vince Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-flynn/) > [Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/success-usually-comes-to-those-who-are-too-busy-to-be-looking-for-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm just too busy living every day to really spend a lot of time thinking 'am I old?' I'm this age. I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/i-m-just-too-busy-living-every-day-to-really-spend-a-lot-of-time/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [I like going down to London for a couple of days, but it's a place where I'd never fancy living - too busy, too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-barry/i-like-going-down-to-london-for-a-couple-of-days-but-it-s-a-place/) [Gareth Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-barry/) > [“Don’t equate effective living to being busy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/don-t-equate-effective-living-to-being-busy/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Don't be so busy trying to make a living that you're too busy to make a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/don-t-be-so-busy-trying-to-make-a-living-that-you-re-too-busy-to-make/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [Christopher is still very lost . Shockingly so. I know where he is, but he's having a hard life. I can only have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/christopher-is-still-very-lost-shockingly-so-i-know-where-he-is-but/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Otherwise, as Dylan says, if you're not busy being born, you're busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/otherwise-as-dylan-says-if-you-re-not-busy-being-born-you-re-busy/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [If you're not busy being born, you're busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/if-you-re-not-busy-being-born-you-re-busy-dying/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## More by Tim Robbins > [I wouldn't say I'm a method actor. I do research when I feel I don't have enough experience for the part I'm playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-wouldn-t-say-i-m-a-method-actor-i-do-research-when-i-feel-i-don-t/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [As we applaud the hard-edged realism of the opening battle scene of Saving Private Ryan, we cringe at the thought of seeing the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/as-we-applaud-the-hard-edged-realism-of-the-opening-battle-scene-of/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I think the enemy is self-censorship. In a free society the biggest danger is that you're afraid to the point where you censor yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-think-the-enemy-is-self-censorship-in-a-free-society-the-biggest/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I've used drugs that I do consider to be dangerous, drugs that are potentially detrimental to kids and society at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-ve-used-drugs-that-i-do-consider-to-be-dangerous-drugs-that-are/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [New York is not conductive to theater. New York does not encourage its young. It does not encourage experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/new-york-is-not-conductive-to-theater-new-york-does-not-encourage-its/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I don't think people have been able to deal with the fact that African American filmmakers can make movies about life and relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-don-t-think-people-have-been-able-to-deal-with-the-fact-that/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [There is absolutely no way that I would enter that world. I would never run for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/there-is-absolutely-no-way-that-i-would-enter-that-world-i-would/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [If I'm a commodity, it wouldn't be a wise idea to buy stock in me - although, in the long run, maybe I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/if-i-m-a-commodity-it-wouldn-t-be-a-wise-idea-to-buy-stock-in-me/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [When you have a person in power who punishes people for speaking their mind, it's truly dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/when-you-have-a-person-in-power-who-punishes-people-for-speaking/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [In this time when a citizenry applauds the liberation of a country as it lives in fear of its own freedom, when people all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/in-this-time-when-a-citizenry-applauds-the-liberation-of-a-country-as/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [You should never try irony or self-effacing humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/you-should-never-try-irony-or-self-effacing-humour/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [If you find yourself in a movie that you have questions about, it's not a compromise to your integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-movie-that-you-have-questions-about-it-s/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I grew up in New York, and I have that in me, that be-honest-at-all-costs, don't b.s. me attitude. I say, If you've got something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-grew-up-in-new-york-and-i-have-that-in-me-that-be-honest-at-all/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I started getting on my feet and clowning around, and they ended up putting me in a play when I was 12. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-started-getting-on-my-feet-and-clowning-around-and-they-ended-up/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I have personal beliefs and they are sometimes reflected in the movies I make, but I also reflect other points of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-have-personal-beliefs-and-they-are-sometimes-reflected-in-the/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) [Explore all 70 Tim Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [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/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It simply comes down to this, Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/tim-robbins-9743_busy_it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-li_2432732.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It simply comes down to this, Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying.” — Tim Robbins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tim Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It simply comes down to this,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/it-simply-comes-down-to-this-get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```