Part of the quote’s power is how accurately it captures modern incentives. In the short term, skipping sleep, movement, or doctor visits can appear “efficient,” especially when deadlines reward output more than sustainability. This creates a quiet bargain: trade today’s self-care for today’s accomplishment.
However, that bargain relies on the assumption that the body will keep cooperating indefinitely. As stress accumulates and small issues go unaddressed, the cost can compound. The transition from “I’m too busy to rest” to “I can’t function unless I rest” often happens gradually—until it suddenly feels unavoidable. [...]
