Theodor Adorno: Time Parsimony
on Tuesday, January 4, 2022Theodor Adorno Money Quote saying the value of time bears frugal care of both time and cash as well. Theodor Adorno said:
“If time is money, it seems moral to save time, above all one’s own, and such parsimony is excused by consideration for others. One is straight-forward” — Theodor Adorno
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In this quote, Theodor Adorno is critiquing the idea that “time is money” and the mentality it can encourage. He suggests that if one views time solely as a financial commodity to be saved and spent carefully, as money is, it can promote a selfish outlook.
Seeing time only in economic terms may lead people to excessively save their own time at the expense of others, for example by rushing through interactions or avoiding helping others to avoid using up their own limited time.
Adorno argues this type of “time parsimony” is rationalized as consideration for others, but really just serves oneself. The key message is that viewing time only as a resource to be economically managed can undermine moral and social relationships in favor of self-interest.
Birthday: September 11, 1903 – Death: August 6, 1969