John Ciardi’s words underline the immutable nature of the world’s progress, regardless of personal participation. Life is in constant motion; time keeps advancing, events unfold, and opportunities pass by, all independent of individual action or inaction. The sun rises, deadlines approach, and routines carry on whether a person chooses to engage with them or not. There is a silent reminder here of how small individual will can be against the relentless march of time and daily routine.
At a deeper level, the statement exposes the futility of resisting the march of daily life. Staying in bed, refusing to face responsibilities, or delaying commitments will not hold the day at bay. The world is not waiting for anyone’s mood or motivation to catch up; it operates on its own terms, strictly indifferent to the needs of one person. There is both liberation and challenge in this realization—freedom in recognizing that it is not all about us, but also challenge in realizing we are responsible for shaping our experiences within the framework of an ever-moving reality.
By emphasizing the certainty of daily progression, Ciardi encourages personal agency. The recognition that each day will unfold—regardless of one’s readiness—gently nudges toward making the conscious choice to participate and make the most of it. The choice to get up is, in reality, the choice to be an active participant in one’s own life rather than a passive observer. It suggests that while the day brings inevitable change and uncontrollable factors, how we meet it is our own. Engaging actively is an acceptance of responsibility and an assertion of will in a world that otherwise cares little for individual hesitation. In the continuous unfolding of each day, personal involvement imparts meaning and direction, distinguishing merely existing from genuinely living.
This quote is written / told by John Ciardi between June 24, 1916 and March 30, 1986. He was a famous Dramatist from USA.
The author also have 20 other quotes.
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time"
"My sorrow, when she's here with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree; she walks the sodden pasture lane"
