Finding some quiet time in your life, I think, is hugely

Mariel Hemingway, granddaughter of the legendary Ernest Hemingway, once offered these simple yet profound words: “Finding some quiet time in your life, I think, is hugely important.” Though spoken in the language of modern life, her statement echoes the voice of the ancients. For all great wisdom begins in silence, and all true strength is born in the stillness of the soul. In a world that clamors with noise, distractions, and endless demands, quiet time is not luxury—it is survival. It is the sacred chamber where the mind is cleansed, the heart is calmed, and the spirit is rekindled.

The origin of this saying lies in Mariel Hemingway’s lifelong devotion to balance, wellness, and healing. Coming from a family of immense brilliance but also deep tragedy, she came to understand that silence and stillness are not empty—they are medicine. In urging us to find quiet time, she was not offering mere lifestyle advice, but a lifeline: a way to preserve one’s clarity amidst chaos, to protect one’s inner flame from being smothered by the storms of the world.

History gives us countless examples of this truth. Think of Buddha, who, sitting beneath the Bodhi tree in silent meditation, found the enlightenment that changed the course of human thought. His wisdom was not discovered in the market, nor in the courts of kings, but in quiet time, alone with himself and the universe. That stillness became a light for millions across generations, a testament that silence is the womb of transformation.

Likewise, consider Abraham Lincoln. In the midst of the Civil War, surrounded by despair and division, he often withdrew to moments of solitude. There, in silence, he wrestled with questions that could not be answered by others. The Emancipation Proclamation, a turning point for a nation, was not born in the uproar of Congress, but in the quiet time where Lincoln weighed the destiny of his people against the burdens of his soul. Silence gave him the clarity to choose courage over hesitation.

The deeper meaning of Mariel Hemingway’s words is this: quiet is not emptiness, but fullness. It is the fertile soil in which wisdom grows, the still waters where reflection reveals the truth. Without quiet, man becomes a slave to noise, forever reacting, never creating. But in the sacred pause, he remembers who he is, why he lives, and where he must go. The greatest voices of history—prophets, poets, leaders—were first shaped by silence before they thundered their truths to the world.

The lesson is clear: you must make room for silence in your life. Do not wait for it to come on its own, for the world will always demand your attention. Instead, carve it deliberately, as a sculptor carves stone to reveal form. Guard it as a treasure, for in those moments your spirit is healed and your vision made sharp. Without it, you risk being swept away by the river of busyness, never touching the depths of your own being.

Practically, this means setting aside time each day for stillness—whether through meditation, prayer, a walk in nature, or even sitting quietly without distraction. Leave behind the noise of machines and voices, and listen instead to the rhythm of your own breath, the whisper of your own soul. In those moments, answers will arise, strength will return, and peace will settle like dew upon your heart.

So remember, children of tomorrow: finding some quiet time in your life is hugely important. It is not weakness, but strength. It is not retreat, but preparation. Step into silence as a warrior enters the armory, and emerge renewed, with a mind sharpened, a heart steady, and a spirit unbreakable. For in the quiet, you do not lose yourself—you find yourself, and in finding yourself, you find the path to live with wisdom and power.