Proverbs and sayings are popular nuggets of wisdom, often in circulation for centuries and even millenniums. This post contains proverbs and sayings on time.
If you’re looking for more proverbs and sayings, you can find plenty of them in the resource below. It contains proverbs on topics such as life, family, friends, love, health, happiness, money, hard work, time, time management, teamwork, leadership, business, education & learning, and more.
Time and tide wait for no man.
You’ve no control over passage of time; it’ll keep slipping. So, make the most of whatever time you have.
Example: We need to decide fast about buying the property at this price. Time and tide wait for no man.
Time has wings.
Time passes fast.
Example: When I look back, I’m amazed at how fast an entire decade has passed. Time indeed has wings.
Time flies like an arrow.
Similar to the last proverb
Write Sentences Like in Newspapers and Books
Step-by-step process. Little grammar. Real-world examples.
Any time means no time.
If you don’t fix time to do a task, it won’t get done.
Example: You should get the car serviced today; otherwise, it won’t get done. Any time means no time.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Procrastination steals (or wastes) time.
Example: We’re just two days from submission, and you haven’t yet researched the topic. So much time is already lost. Procrastination is the thief of time.
Time is money.
Time is valuable.
Example: You’ll often see successful people not wasting a single minute. That’s because time is money.
Never is a long time.
When you say never, you stretch the time to infinity in future, which is very, very long time.
Example: My father said he would never join TikTok, but he eventually did. Never is a long time.
A watched pot never boils.
If you wait for something to happen and if that’s your sole focus, it’ll seem to take a long time.
Example: Waiting for my train, I glanced at the arrival time several times. Although it was to arrive in just 20 minutes, it seemed to take forever. A watched pot never boils.
There is time and place for everything.
Not everything can be done anywhere and anytime.
Example: Let’s not drink here. There is time and place for everything.
Work expands to fill the available time.
If we’ve more time at hand, we’ll take longer to finish the same work by working more leisurely.
Example: I had far more time than I needed to finish the assignment, but I’m still struggling to finish it. Work indeed expands to fill the available time.
Man fears time, but time fears pyramids.
People come and go. Longest-living creatures come and go. But time stays. Time, however, doesn’t seem to beat pyramids, which have endured millenniums. This proverb reflects our veneration and mysticism for pyramids.
Example: Djoser Step Pyramid was constructed more than 4,500 years ago and is still going strong. That’s why we say man fears time, but time fears pyramids.
Time works wonders.
Many problems are resolved or become less severe with passage of time.
Example: Animosity between the two brothers melted away with passage of time, and they eventually reconciled. Time indeed works wonders.
Time is a great healer.
Similar to the last proverb
Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.
If you’ve to leave a mark on the world in whatever little way you want, you’ve to work for it. In other words, you can’t day-dream your way to success.
Example: If you want to get into a good college, you’ve to work hard. Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.
Distance tests a horse’s strength. Time reveals a person’s character.
Riding a horse over a short distance doesn’t reveal its strength and endurance. Similarly, you can’t judge a person’s character over a short period of time. He may seem nice over a short period but unless you see him over different cycles – good, bad, and ugly – you wouldn’t know the real him.
Example: After Tom’s business took a downturn, only few friends came for help and solidarity. Distance tests a horse’s strength; time reveals a person’s character.
God made time, but man made haste.
We have, and not God has, overpacked our schedules, creating haste and stress.
Example: Why have you taken so much work if it’s constantly keeping you on the run. God made time, but man made haste.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
If you’ve missed on doing something in the past, you can’t do anything about it. What you can do though is do it now.
Example: You haven’t been exercising regularly for a long time, but you can start today. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
Take time to smell the roses.
Past is gone. Future is not yet here. The only thing you’ve is present. So, learn to live and enjoy the present. Slow down, observe things around, and experience them.
Example: That day when I looked at things around in the park unrushed, I felt so calm and found the bounties of nature such a precious gift. I think I had become a robot, and I need to change. I need to take time to smell the roses to feel happy again.
A stitch in time saves nine.
It’s better to deal with problems immediately than wait, by when they worsen and become much bigger.
Example: Because we anticipated and responded to the possible change in Facebook algorithm, the referral traffic to our website dropped much less than what happened to some of our competitors. A stitch in time saves nine.
There is no time like the present.
Don’t spend time regretting past actions or worrying about the future. Take care of the major problems you have today instead.
Example: Don’t wait until New Year to change your bad habits. There’s no time like the present.
