--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pain had a way of breaking time down. I…" description: "\"“Pain had a way of breaking time down. I thought about the next minute, the next hour. There wasn't enough space in my mind to put all those pieces tog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png" --- # Pain had a way of breaking time down. I thought about the… ![“Pain had a way of breaking time down. I thought about the next minute, the next hour. There wasn't enough space in my mind to put all those pieces together, to find words to summarise the whole of it. But the "keep going" part, I knew the words for. P151” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png) > ““Pain had a way of breaking time down. I thought about the next minute, the next hour. There wasn't enough space in my mind to put all those pieces together, to find words to summarise the whole of it. But the "keep going" part, I knew the words for. P151”” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pain compresses perception of time, making future thoughts feel overwhelming, yet the drive to persist remains clear. **In simple terms:** Pain makes time feel short, but we still know how to keep going. Key Takeaway Focus on the present, keep moving forward. Themes pain time persistence mental health Mood anxious determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - stressful work - grief - chronic illness - high pressure tasks Key Concepts psychology mindfulness resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay present under intense pressure? - What helps you maintain motivation when time feels limited? A Different Perspective Pain can cloud clarity, making planning difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Akos-kereseth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/akos-kereseth-5415/) [Carve-the-mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carve-the-mark-28245/) [Cyra-noavek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyra-noavek-41220/) [Hour Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour-wasn-6008595/) [Keep going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep-going/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pieces Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces-words-2272779/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Thought Minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-minute-1589052/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-thought/) [Veronica-roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veronica-roth/) [Words Summarise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-summarise-6008596/) ## Related quotes > [“I sprinted down the alley, not fast enough to avoid the cold water rolling down my back, with a childlike shriek. I caught his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-sprinted-down-the-alley-not-fast-enough-to-avoid-the-cold-water/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You know,' he said, the condition of sourness--or monstrousness, as you might call it--doesn't have to be permanent.' P189”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-know-he-said-the-condition-of-sourness-or-monstrousness-as-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“There was only one huge world with no back to it A world like a sun One day it broke into tiny pieces They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/there-was-only-one-huge-world-with-no-back-to-it-a-world-like-a-sun/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Language, at least, may give up the secrets of life and death, leading us through the maze to the original Word as monster or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/language-at-least-may-give-up-the-secrets-of-life-and-death-leading/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [“Logan thought for a minute. "Well, if you enjoy life while you have it, then it doesn't matter how long you have it for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/logan-thought-for-a-minute-well-if-you-enjoy-life-while-you-have-it/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [I couldn't allow myself to think about her very long; if I had I would have jumped off the bridge. It's strange. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-couldn-t-allow-myself-to-think-about-her-very-long-if-i-had-i-would/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [I thought about that for a minute - about what I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-thought-about-that-for-a-minute-about-what-i-wanted/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Akos-kereseth quotes > [“I sprinted down the alley, not fast enough to avoid the cold water rolling down my back, with a childlike shriek. I caught his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-sprinted-down-the-alley-not-fast-enough-to-avoid-the-cold-water/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“You know,' he said, the condition of sourness--or monstrousness, as you might call it--doesn't have to be permanent.' P189”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-know-he-said-the-condition-of-sourness-or-monstrousness-as-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Browse all 3 Akos-kereseth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/akos-kereseth-5415/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Pain had a way of breaking time down. I thought about the next minute, the next hour. There wasn't enough space in my mind to put all those pieces together, to find words to summarise the whole of it. But the \"keep going\" part, I knew the words for. P151”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-thought-about-the-next-minute/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Akos-kereseth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-thought-about-the-next-minute/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/veronica-roth-66_akos-kereseth_pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-t_1587428.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pain had a way of breaking time down. I thought about the next minute, the next hour. There wasn't enough…” — Veronica Roth", "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": "Veronica Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Pain had a way of breaking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-thought-about-the-next-minute/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/pain-had-a-way-of-breaking-time-down-i-thought-about-the-next-minute/#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 } } ] } ```