He seems to always miss the point or maybe it's designed that way..
Took him forever to say the three words.
Took him too late to utter.
That's beside the point,
The point is the emphasis on the words.
Probably..
That's still beside the point.
The point could actually lies or truth  in the shoulders of what follows the three words.
The point is, he's a product of words and action, so one without the other is to him a soul without the body.
And no equilibrium no peace for him.