For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.

Lily Tomlin, an American comedian and actor known for her sharp one-liners and satirical observations about modern life, is widely credited with this quip as part of her stand-up/comic persona rather than a single formal essay or speech. The line plays on the language of advertising—especially the promise of “fast-acting relief” associated with medicines—by flipping the expectation: the “remedy” for stress and overload is not more speed but deliberate deceleration. It circulated broadly in quotation collections and popular media as a standalone aphorism, reflecting late-20th-century anxieties about busyness, productivity, and the pace of everyday life.

The joke hinges on paradox: the quickest way to feel better may be to stop rushing. By borrowing the cadence of commercial slogans, the quote critiques a culture that seeks instant fixes while perpetuating the conditions—overwork, constant stimulation, time pressure—that cause distress. “Slowing down” suggests more than moving at a reduced pace; it implies attention, presence, and a refusal to let urgency dictate values. The line’s humor makes the advice palatable, but its point is serious: relief can come from changing one’s relationship to time rather than chasing yet another rapid solution.