He that is not handsome at 20, nor strong at 30, nor rich at 40, nor wise at 50, will never be handsome, strong, rich or wise.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Lost wealth may be restored by industry,—the wreck of health regained by temperance,—forgotten knowledge restored by study,—alienated friendship smoothed into forgetfulness,—even forfeited reputation won by penitence and virtue. But who ever looked upon his vanished hours,—recalled his slighted years,—stamped them with wisdom,—or effaced from Heaven’s record the fearful blot of wasted time?
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
Youth is not rich in time, it may be poor; part with it as with money, sparing; pay no moment, but in purchase of its worth; and what it’s worth, ask death-beds; they can tell.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Youth, large, lusty, loving—Youth, full of grace, force, fascination. Do you know that Old Age may come after you with equal grace, force, fascination?
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Count that day lost, whose slow descending sun views from thine hand no worthy action done.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Heck by the time a man scratches his behind, clears his throat, and tells me how smart he is, we’ve already wasted fifteen minutes.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
The flower that you hold in your hands was born today and already it is as old as you are.
—Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Poet
While one finds company in himself and his pursuits, he cannot feel old, no matter what his years may be.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
These times of ours are serious and full of calamity, but all times are essentially alike. As soon as there is life there is danger.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Everything requires time. It is the only truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable, and necessary resource. Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective executives as much as their tender loving care of time.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
New time always! Old time we cannot keep. Time does not become sacred to us until we have lived it, until it has passed over us and taken with it a part of ourselves.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things.
—Jesse Jackson (b.1941) American Baptist Civil Rights Activist, Minister
The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
To live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
The infinite is in the finite of every instant.
—Unknown
Time will discover everything to posterity; it is a babbler, and speaks even when no question is put.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Lost time is never found again.
—Common Proverb
Everything passes, everything perishes, everything palls.
—French Proverb
The lifeless boughs of time.
—Edgar Lee Masters (1869–1950) American Poet, Novelist
As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Modern thought has transferred the spectral character of Death to the notion of time itself. Time has become Death triumphant over all.
—John Berger (1926–2017) English Art Critic, Novelist
Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.
—Unknown
Friend is sometimes a word devoid of meaning; enemy, never.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
When one has a great deal to put into it a day has a hundred pockets.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
There is no saying shocks me so much as that which I hear very often, “that a man does not know how to pass his time.” It would have been but ill-spoken by Methusaleh in the nine hun-dred and sixty-ninth year of his life.
—Abraham Cowley (1618–67) English Poet, Essayist
Today is life—the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through.
—Chinese Proverb
There comes a time in every man’s life, and I’ve had plenty of them.
—Casey Stengel (1890–1975) American Sportsperson
Time is the wisest counsellor of all.
—Pericles (c.490–429 BCE) Athenian Statesman, General