The things that matter don't necessarily make sense.
Russell HobanRead
Too-lateness, I realized, has nothing to do with age. It’s a relation of self to the moment. Or not, depending on the person and the moment. Perhaps there even comes a time when it’s no longer too late for anything. Perhaps, even, most times are too early for most things, and most of life has to go by before it’s time for almost anything and too late for almost nothing. Nothing to lose, the present moment to gain, the integration with long-delayed Now.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that it's never truly too late to pursue something, as timing and self-awareness are key factors in seizing the moment.
Russell Hoban's quote emphasizes that the concept of 'too late' is not solely defined by age, but rather by an individual’s relationship with the present moment. It proposes that often people feel they have missed opportunities prematurely, indicating that many experiences require time and maturity before they become relevant or attainable. By suggesting that we may be too early for many things in life, the quote encourages embracing the present and recognizing that it may never truly be too late to start anew or pursue our passions.
Themes
TimingSelf-AwarenessPresentOpportunityLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing dreams, one might use this quote to inspire the audience.
More from Russell Hoban
All quotes →Similar quotes
You wake up in the morning, and lo! your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of the unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life! It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. It is unstealable. And no one receives either more or less than you receive.
Arnold BennettRead
Joy and life exist nowhere but the present.
Maxine Hong KingstonRead
All the time, I've felt that life is a wager and that I probably was getting more out of leading a bohemian existence as a writer than I would have if I didn't.
Christopher HitchensRead
A life without problems or limitations or challenges--life without "opposition in all things," as Lehi phrased it (2 Nephi 2:11)--would paradoxically but in very fact be less rewarding and less ennobling than one which confronts--even frequently confronts--difficulty and disappointment and sorrow.
Jeffrey R. HollandRead
At this moment, many people have stopped living. They do not become angry, nor cry out; they merely wait for time to pass. They did not accept the challenges of life, so life no longer challenges them
Paulo CoelhoRead
Life is too tragic for sadness: Let us rejoice.
Edward AbbeyRead