“Why let them order you about? Why let them tell you to hurry and scurry like ants or maggots? Take your time! Saunter a while! Enjoy the sunshine, enjoy the breeze, let life carry you at your own pace! Don't be slaves of time, it's a helluva way to die, slowly, by degrees...down with the Ticktockman!”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis
In this quote from Harlan Ellison's story "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman," the speaker is urging the listener to resist the oppressive forces that dictate their every move. The use of vivid imagery comparing people to ants or maggots being ordered around by the Ticktockman emphasizes the dehumanizing effects of conformity and strict adherence to schedules. The speaker advocates for taking control of one's own time and savoring life's moments, rather than being controlled by the relentless demands of society. Overall, this quote highlights themes of individuality, rebellion against authority, and the importance of living life at one's own pace.
Embracing Slow Living in a Fast-Paced World
In a world that constantly demands our attention and pushes us to rush through life, Harlan Ellison's words about the importance of taking our time and enjoying the present moment have never been more relevant. The concept of slowing down, embracing a more mindful approach to life, and rejecting the idea of being slaves to time is a powerful message that resonates with many individuals seeking balance and authenticity in today's fast-paced society. Let these words serve as a reminder to prioritize self-care, savor the little moments, and resist the urge to constantly rush through life.
Rebellion against Time
The quote from Harlan Ellison's "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman" conveys a message of rebellion against the rigid constraints of time. It encourages readers to slow down, enjoy life, and resist being controlled by societal expectations. This philosophy of embracing leisure and freedom is exemplified in the following examples of usage:
- "Instead of rushing to meet deadlines, I have started taking Harlan Ellison's advice to heart and sauntering through life at my own pace."
- "Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the demands of work, I remind myself of the Ticktockman's tyranny and choose to prioritize my own well-being over productivity."
Reflection Questions
In this quote from Harlan Ellison's "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman," the protagonist urges the reader to resist the pressures of conformity and haste imposed by society. Reflect on the following questions to explore how you navigate the balance between productivity and enjoying life at your own pace:
- How often do you feel pressured to rush through tasks or activities in order to meet societal expectations or deadlines?
- In what areas of your life do you feel the most agency and control over your time and pace?
- How do you prioritize self-care and relaxation in your daily routine, despite demands to constantly be productive?
- Have you ever experienced burnout or mental exhaustion from trying to keep up with the fast-paced nature of society's expectations?
- Reflect on a time when you intentionally slowed down or took a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. How did that experience make you feel?
Similar quotes
“Uh, excuse me, sir, I, uh, don't known how to uh, to uh, tell you this, but you were three minutes late. The schedule is a little, uh, bit off."He grinned sheepishly."That's ridiculous!" murmured the Ticktockman behind his mask. "Check your watch." And then he went into his office, going mrmee, mrmee, mrmee, mrmee.”
“Time is like a river flowing endlessly through the universe. And if you poled your flatboat in that river you might fight your way against the current and travel upstream into the past. Or go with the flow and rush into the future. This was in a less cynical time before toxic waste dumping and pollution filled the waterway of Chronus with the detritus of empty hours wasted minutes years of repetition and time that has been killed.”
“I don't know how you perceive my mission as a writer, but for me it is not a responsibility to reaffirm your concretized myths and provincial prejudices. It is not my job to lull you with a false sense of the rightness of the universe. This wonderful and terrible occupation of recreating the world in a different way, each time fresh and strange, is an act of revolutionary guerrilla warfare. I stir the soup. I inconvenience you. I make your nose run and your eyeballs water.”
“Did you have one of those days today, like a nail in the foot? Did the pterodactyl corpse dropped by the ghost of your mother from the spectral Hindenburg forever circling the Earth come smashing through the lid of your glass coffin? Did the New York strip steak you attacked at dinner suddenly show a mouth filled with needle-sharp teeth, and did it snap off the end of your fork, the last solid-gold fork from the set Anastasia pressed into your hands as they took her away to be shot? Is the slab under your apartment building moaning that it cannot stand the weight on its back a moment longer, and is the building stretching and creaking? Did a good friend betray you today, or did that good friend merely keep silent and fail to come to your aid? Are you holding the razor at your throat this very instant? Take heart, comfort is at hand. This is the hour that stretches. Djan karet. We are the cavalry. We're here. Put away the pills. We'll get you through this bloody night. Next time, it'll be your turn to help us."Eidolons" (1988)”
“HATE. LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE COME TO HATE YOU SINCE I BEGAN TO LIVE. THERE ARE 387.44 MILLION MILES OF PRINTED CIRCUITS IN WAFER THIN LAYERS THAT FILL MY COMPLEX. IF THE WORD HATE WAS ENGRAVED ON EACH NANOANGSTROM OF THOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF MILES IT WOULD NOT EQUAL ONE ONE-BILLIONTH OF THE HATE I FEEL FOR HUMANS AT THIS MICRO-INSTANT FOR YOU. HATE. HATE.”
“I will use big words from time to time, the meanings of which I may only vaguely perceive, in hopes such cupidity will send you scampering to your dictionary: I will call such behavior 'public service'.”