"It's later than it's ever been"
About this Quote
Its later than its ever been lands like a punchline disguised as a clock. Flip Wilson takes the blandest possible fact - time moves forward - and turns it into a sly alarm bell. The genius is the trapdoor: you nod because its true, then you feel the sting because its uselessly true. That tension is where comedy lives, and where Wilsons cultural instinct shows up: make the obvious sound urgent.
The intent is part motivational, part mock-motivational. In the 1970s self-help language, hustle mantras, and late-night worries about money and purpose were everywhere, especially for audiences watching old promises (civil rights gains, economic security, faith in institutions) wobble under Vietnam and Watergate. Wilsons line mirrors that anxious vibe but refuses to sermonize. Its the sort of thing a friend says to snap you out of procrastination, and the sort of thing a comedian says to expose how cheap that snap can be.
Subtext: youre out of time, but also youre never not out of time. Its both memento mori and bit. The phrasing - ever been - is child-simple, almost nursery-rhyme plain, which lets the darkness slide in without melodrama. Wilson doesnt ask you to contemplate mortality; he smuggles it in through a laugh.
Contextually it fits his broader persona: playful, streetwise, allergic to pomposity. Even when the message is serious, the delivery implies: relax, but dont kid yourself.
The intent is part motivational, part mock-motivational. In the 1970s self-help language, hustle mantras, and late-night worries about money and purpose were everywhere, especially for audiences watching old promises (civil rights gains, economic security, faith in institutions) wobble under Vietnam and Watergate. Wilsons line mirrors that anxious vibe but refuses to sermonize. Its the sort of thing a friend says to snap you out of procrastination, and the sort of thing a comedian says to expose how cheap that snap can be.
Subtext: youre out of time, but also youre never not out of time. Its both memento mori and bit. The phrasing - ever been - is child-simple, almost nursery-rhyme plain, which lets the darkness slide in without melodrama. Wilson doesnt ask you to contemplate mortality; he smuggles it in through a laugh.
Contextually it fits his broader persona: playful, streetwise, allergic to pomposity. Even when the message is serious, the delivery implies: relax, but dont kid yourself.
Quote Details
| Topic | Time |
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