This article collects 30 powerful quotes about saving time, providing insightful nuggets of wisdom from some of the most influential figures in history.
Each quote brings a unique perspective on valuing, managing, and utilizing our time and inspires us to make every second count in our journey to success.
1. Benjamin Hoff
“The main problem with this great obsession for saving time is very simple: you can’t save time. You can only spend it. But you can spend it wisely or foolishly.”
In this quote, Hoff reflects on the modern obsession with saving time and points out a fundamental truth: time, once passed, cannot be saved or recovered.
We can, however, control how we spend our time, and therein lies our power. Spending it “wisely or foolishly” is up to us. This quote encourages mindful decision-making and prioritization, underlining the importance of spending our time on things that truly matter to us.
2. Peter Cochrane
“The world is divided into two kinds of people, those who spend a great deal of time saving money, and those who spend a great deal of money saving time.”
Peter Cochrane’s quote succinctly illustrates the balance and trade-off between time and money. It shows how people prioritize one over the other based on their values, lifestyle, and needs.
3. Will Rogers
“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.”
Will Rogers, an American actor and social commentator, provides a poignant commentary on the paradox of rushing through life in an effort to save time.
4. Eduardo Galeano
“I am not particularly interested in saving time; I prefer to enjoy it.”
Eduardo Galeano’s quote emphasizes the importance of not just saving time but truly enjoying it. It reminds us that time is not just a resource to be carefully managed but also a gift to be savored and appreciated.
5. Oscar Wilde
“I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time and prevents arguments.”
Known for his wit and flamboyance, Oscar Wilde humorously suggests that he can save time and avoid disputes by doing all the talking himself. While this quote is humorous and should not be taken literally, it illustrates Wilde’s sharp wit and unique perspective on human interaction.
6. Michael LeBoeuf
“We talk about saving time and killing time when actually we can’t do either. We have no choice but to spend it at a constant and flowing rate.”
Business author and former management professor at the University of New Orleans Michael LeBoeuf draws our attention to the language we use to talk about time and the underlying misconceptions those phrases imply.
Despite our frequent discussions about ‘saving’ or ‘killing’ time, time, by its nature, continues to move at its own unalterable pace, regardless of our actions. This quote reminds us to use our time wisely since we can’t control its passage.
7. Unknown
“To save time is to lengthen life.”
This quote goes directly to the heart of the matter. Saving time essentially gives us more moments to live.
8. Jean de La Bruyère
“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity.”
French philosopher Jean de La Bruyère notes the irony of how those who misuse time often complain about not having enough of it.
9. Charles Darwin
“A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.”
Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, emphasizes the importance of valuing time by suggesting that anyone who wastes it does not understand the value of life itself.
10. Publilius Syrus
“To do two things at once is to do neither.”
Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer of sententiae, emphasizes the importance of focus. By trying to do too many things at once, we may end up not doing any of them well, which ultimately is not a good strategy for saving time.
11. Will Rogers
“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.”
Will Rogers, an American actor and social commentator, provides a poignant commentary on the paradox of rushing through life in an effort to save time.
12. Kerry Johnson
“Do we need more time? Or do we need to be more disciplined with the time we have?”
Author and speaker Kerry Johnson pose a crucial question that redirects our attention from pursuing more time to better discipline and managing our time.
13. Alan Lakein
“You save time when you have a priority.”
Time management expert Alan Lakein points out the importance of prioritizing in order to save time effectively.
14. William Penn
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” –
William Penn was an English Quaker leader and founder of Pennsylvania. He highlighted the paradox of time: how it’s the thing we desire most, yet we often misuse it. It’s a reminder to make every moment count.
15. Unknown
“Don’t count every hour in the day; make every hour in the day count.”
This quote underscores the importance of focusing on quality over quantity. It’s not about how much time we have but how we use it.
16. Stephen R. Covey
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Stephen R. Covey, author of the highly acclaimed “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” encourages us to focus on what really matters. The advice is about structuring your time around your most important goals.
17. Benjamin Franklin
“Lost time is never found again.”
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, emphasized the importance of time in his writings, reminding us that once time has passed, we can’t get it back. The quote highlights the importance of making good use of our time.
18. Lao Tzu
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.'” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher, and founder of Taoism, puts the responsibility of time management squarely on our shoulders. Essentially, he asserts that we make time for what we truly value.
19. Paul J. Meyer
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
Paul J. Meyer, the founder of the personal development industry, highlights the ingredients necessary for productivity: commitment, planning, and focused effort. It’s not about having time; it’s about making time productive.
20. Michael Altshuler
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” –
Motivational speaker and sales expert Michael Altshuler reminds us that we control how we use our time.
21. Golda Meir
“I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.”
Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, underlines the importance of mastering our time rather than letting it rule us. It’s a testament to her strong leadership qualities.
22. Charles Buxton
“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.”
Charles Buxton, an English brewer, politician, and philanthropist, advises us to create time for our priorities. It’s about taking the initiative rather than waiting for spare time to magically appear.
23. Paulo Coelho
“Do something instead of killing time. Because time is killing you.”
Paulo Coelho, the bestselling author of “The Alchemist,” encourages us to be proactive. He metaphorically describes time as something that’s running out, reminding us of the importance of seizing the day.
24. Marthe Troly-Curtin
“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”
Marthe Troly-Curtin, in her book “Phrynette Married,” offers a refreshing perspective on how we perceive the use of our time, suggesting that joy can justify time spent.
25. Jim Rohn
“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn draws a crucial comparison between time and money, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of time.
26. Mozart
“The shorter way to do many things is to only do one thing at a time.”
Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart highlights the power of focus. His suggestion to tackle tasks one at a time is still relevant today in the discussion about the effectiveness of multitasking.
27. Dr. Seuss
“How did it get so late so soon?”
Dr. Seuss, the beloved author of children’s books, whimsically captures the feeling of time passing faster than we expect.
28. Anonymous
“You have the same number of hours in a day as Beyonce.”
This anonymous quote is a popular motivational reminder that time is equally distributed, and it’s how we use it that makes the difference.
29. Alan Lakein
“Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life.”
Alan Lakein, a well-known author on personal time management, equates the quality of life with the management of time.
30. Benjamin Franklin
“Time is money.”
Another wisdom from Franklin draws a direct line between time and wealth, a sentiment that has influenced Western attitudes toward time management.
31. Arthur Schopenhauer
“Ordinary people think merely of spending time. Great people think of using it.”
German philosopher Schopenhauer distinguishes between simply spending time and using it effectively.
32. Steve Jobs
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” –
Co-founder of Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, emphasizes the importance of authenticity and not letting others’ expectations dictate how we use our time.
33. M. Scott Peck
“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.”
M. Scott Peck, an American psychiatrist, and best-selling author, links self-worth with how one values and utilizes their time.
The Bottom Line
In this collection of quotes, we’ve explored the concept of ‘saving time’ from various perspectives.
These thought-provoking insights underscore the non-negotiable nature of time’s passage, urging us to be intentional about our choices.
Ultimately, the quotes emphasize that while time cannot be saved or stored, our decisions about how we use it significantly shape our lives.
