--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our time is too short to waste walking…" description: "\"“Our time is too short to waste walking down paths to nowhere.” The old man averted his gaze away from the cooking fire and covered his shoulders with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/timothy-bax-16757_old-man_our-time-is-too-short-to-waste-walking-d_1937972.jpg" --- # Our time is too short to waste walking down paths to… ![“Our time is too short to waste walking down paths to nowhere.” The old man averted his gaze away from the cooking fire and covered his shoulders with a threadbare blanket the usefulness of which seemed long since to have been served. It reeked of wood smoke and stale tobacco. I knew at that moment…” quote by Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/timothy-bax-16757_old-man_our-time-is-too-short-to-waste-walking-d_1937972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/timothy-bax-16757_old-man_our-time-is-too-short-to-waste-walking-d_1937972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/timothy-bax-16757_old-man_our-time-is-too-short-to-waste-walking-d_1937972.jpg) > ““Our time is too short to waste walking down paths to nowhere.” The old man averted his gaze away from the cooking fire and covered his shoulders with a threadbare blanket the usefulness of which seemed long since to have been served. It reeked of wood smoke and stale tobacco. I knew at that moment he would give me the benefit of his wisdom. I didn’t want to lead our conversation too quickly in the direction I intended. Africa is timeless and so are her people. The minutes and the hours are unknown computations of a span irrelevant. Time is unimportant and its purpose trivial. Its allotment is measured only by the purpose of a mind composed.”” [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is fleeting; wandering aimlessly wastes precious moments; purposeful focus gives life meaning. **In simple terms:** Time is short; choose purpose. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful actions. Themes time purpose mindfulness Mood contemplative thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - daily planning - long‑term goals - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What purpose guides your daily choices? - How do you balance spontaneity with intention? A Different Perspective Purpose can be subjective; not all paths feel meaningless. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe all theatre is going to be irrelevant for all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-horovitz/maybe-all-theatre-is-going-to-be-irrelevant-for-all-time/) [Israel Horovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-horovitz/) > [“Your territory of choice is irrelevant, time conversion is what matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/your-territory-of-choice-is-irrelevant-time-conversion-is-what-matters/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Time is too short to not follow your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-too-short-to-not-follow-your-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faced with a time shortage, we squeeze tasks into the nooks and crannies of our calendar, leaving less and less time to switch between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-mullainathan/faced-with-a-time-shortage-we-squeeze-tasks-into-the-nooks-and/) [Sendhil Mullainathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-mullainathan/) > [We have a finite amount of time. Whether short or long, it doesn't matter. Life is to be lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-have-a-finite-amount-of-time-whether-short-or-long-it-doesn-t/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Life is short. Time is short. As we get older, time does quicken. It's long, and it's long pertaining to that thought, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/life-is-short-time-is-short-as-we-get-older-time-does-quicken-it-s/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My mom is always telling me it takes a long time to get to the top, but a short time to get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/my-mom-is-always-telling-me-it-takes-a-long-time-to-get-to-the-top/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [In T20, there's a time shortage because you've got four overs. In one-day cricket, you relax, and the game goes long, and you only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-tahir/in-t20-there-s-a-time-shortage-because-you-ve-got-four-overs-in-one/) [Imran Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-tahir/) > [One cannot buy, rent or hire more time. The supply of time is totally inelastic. No matter how high the demand, the supply will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-cannot-buy-rent-or-hire-more-time-the-supply-of-time-is-totally/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone else's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobi-yamada/embrace-your-uniqueness-time-is-much-too-short-to-be-living-someone/) [Kobi Yamada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobi-yamada/) > [Think not thy time short in this world, since the world itself is not long. The created world is but a small parenthesis in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/think-not-thy-time-short-in-this-world-since-the-world-itself-is-not/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [I've always had a clear sense that time is short and we need to live as fully as we can in every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leavitt/i-ve-always-had-a-clear-sense-that-time-is-short-and-we-need-to-live/) [Caroline Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leavitt/) > [Time is very short even for love. I don't know how people find time for hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-very-short-even-for-love-i-don-t-know-how-people-find-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It reminded him that time was short, but that beautiful endings could still be found at the end of cold, dreary days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-ford/it-reminded-him-that-time-was-short-but-that-beautiful-endings-could/) [Jamie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-ford/) > [“Philosophy is the theory of multiplicities, each of which is composed of actual and virtual elements. Purely actual objects do not exist. Every actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/philosophy-is-the-theory-of-multiplicities-each-of-which-is-composed/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) ## More by Timothy Bax > [“It's not where the dogs bark that danger lurks. It's from the silence of the shadows where you hear no bark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/it-s-not-where-the-dogs-bark-that-danger-lurks-it-s-from-the-silence/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“A dove will only feed from one who is patient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/a-dove-will-only-feed-from-one-who-is-patient/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“Learn from your elders, for they have walked where you have yet to walk, have seen what you have yet to see, have learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/learn-from-your-elders-for-they-have-walked-where-you-have-yet-to/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“Do not be deviated from your journey by the chatter of monkeys”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/do-not-be-deviated-from-your-journey-by-the-chatter-of-monkeys/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“Better to hunt for the leopard than have the leopard hunt for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/better-to-hunt-for-the-leopard-than-have-the-leopard-hunt-for-you/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“There are many warnings before the storm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/there-are-many-warnings-before-the-storm/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“You cannot live in peace with others if you cannot live in peace with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/you-cannot-live-in-peace-with-others-if-you-cannot-live-in-peace-with/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“You need only light your lantern to dispel the fears of the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/you-need-only-light-your-lantern-to-dispel-the-fears-of-the-night/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“To criticize is to be despised. To counsel is to be revered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/to-criticize-is-to-be-despised-to-counsel-is-to-be-revered/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“The lion is not easily distracted by the mindless chatter of monkeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/the-lion-is-not-easily-distracted-by-the-mindless-chatter-of-monkeys/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“Wisdom can be offered only by those from whom wisdom flows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/wisdom-can-be-offered-only-by-those-from-whom-wisdom-flows/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“Yesterday is washed away. It no longer belongs to us. With it are washed any fears and sorrow that might have accompanied it. Today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/yesterday-is-washed-away-it-no-longer-belongs-to-us-with-it-are/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“When the pupil is ready the teacher will arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/when-the-pupil-is-ready-the-teacher-will-arrive/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“Cast not a stranger from the warmth of your fire You too may be a stranger some day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/cast-not-a-stranger-from-the-warmth-of-your-fire-you-too-may-be-a/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [“The jungle does not distinguish between rich or poor, pauper or prince. It cares not who or what you are, or even that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/the-jungle-does-not-distinguish-between-rich-or-poor-pauper-or-prince/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) [Explore all 39 Timothy Bax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) ## More Moment quotes > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [“Enjoy small moments as they come. At the end, That's what makes life worthwhile...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadun-lokuliyanage/enjoy-small-moments-as-they-come-at-the-end-that-s-what-makes-life/) Nadun Lokuliyanage > [“Will you destroy something in order to make it beautiful? Will you avoid something in order to fall in love with it? Will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/will-you-destroy-something-in-order-to-make-it-beautiful-will-you/) [Hanif Hassan Barbhuiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/) > [Any moment,everything can change.. - Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-duff/any-moment-everything-can-change-hilary-duff/) [Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-duff/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [It's you. It's been you for the past 7 months, since the moment we started talking. It's you at 2am or it's you at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/it-s-you-it-s-been-you-for-the-past-7-months-since-the-moment-we/) [Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [“In this moment, I'm yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/in-this-moment-i-m-yours/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [Brian Johnson, AC/DC, singing 'The Hokey Pokey' with him - I'll take that over any other moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breuer/brian-johnson-ac-dc-singing-the-hokey-pokey-with-him-i-ll-take-that/) [Jim Breuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breuer/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There was a stage in my career when I started to have problems with the vanity aspect of the subject. I got frustrated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juergen-teller/there-was-a-stage-in-my-career-when-i-started-to-have-problems-with/) [Juergen Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juergen-teller/) [Browse all 5,869 Moment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our time is too short to waste walking down paths to nowhere.” The old man averted his gaze away from the cooking fire and covered his shoulders with a threadbare blanket the usefulness of which seemed long since to have been served. It reeked of wood smoke and stale tobacco. I knew at that moment he would give me the benefit of his wisdom. I didn’t want to lead our conversation too quickly in the direction I intended. Africa is timeless and so are her people. The minutes and the hours are unknown computations of a span irrelevant. Time is unimportant and its purpose trivial. 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