Plots are artificial. Does your life have a plot? It has characters. There is a narrative. There's a lot of story, a lot of character. But plot? Eh, no.
Richard LinklaterRead
Everybody just wants to appreciate time as it's passing, to be in the moment. It's the hardest thing to do. You're either in the unknown future that you're working toward, or you're in the past that becomes a little abstract.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the challenge of living in the present and appreciating the moment, as people often get lost in the future or past.
Richard Linklater's quote reflects the human tendency to either dwell on the past or to anxiously anticipate the future, making it difficult for us to fully appreciate the present moment. He suggests that while everyone seeks to be present, it's a challenge to let go of those distractions and truly engage with the here and now, which is essential for a fulfilling life.
Themes
TimePresentLivingMomentAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
In a meditation class, one might quote this to encourage mindfulness.
More from Richard Linklater
All quotes →I believe if there's any kind of God it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.
Richard LinklaterRead
As you get older, you want less from the world; you just want to experience it. Any barriers to feeling emotions get dismantled. And ordinary things become beautifully poetic.
Richard LinklaterRead
For a lot of us, awareness is merely realizing the extent to which we've been lied to all our lives. You start educating yourself. You become motivated; you follow your muse where it takes you. And you see the world in a different way. You start making decisions based on what you feel is right.
Richard LinklaterRead
The best thing for your psyche as you try to accomplish anything, really, is to just concentrate on all the little things. And not just as a means to an end, but truly enjoy them.
Richard LinklaterRead
Filmmakers are going to make films, just like painters are going to paint.
Richard LinklaterRead
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I think so, too. I know I felt that way. For years. It was as if I was a character in a movie and the real action was about to start at any minute. But I think some people wait forever, and only at the end of their lives do they realize that their life has happened while they were waiting for it to start.
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