12 Thought-Provoking Time Quotes

81 Shares

I don’t know about you but for me, this year feels like it’s flying by!

It’s got me thinking about time and our often complex relationship with it.

Time is a funny thing.

We might feel like we are wasting time, that it’s flying by us (and we’re struggling to keep up), or that we are running out of it (which is a scary feeling).

We might even feel stuck in time like life isn’t moving along at all or find ourselves wishing we could turn back time.

As regular readers know, I love a good quote so I thought 12 thought-provoking time quotes would be just the ticket to dig into our feelings on the subject.

Here are my 12 favorite time quotes looking at time from a few different perspectives. Let’s see which ones you can relate to.

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Any compensation I receive does not affect the price you pay.

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” – William Penn

Let’s start with some straight-up honesty. A lot of us (including me) don’t always use our time well or wisely.

We often lament about not having enough time but then we use what time we do have badly. Using our time wisely often requires willpower, self-discipline, and a big old dose of sacrifice.

More time-related content –

The price of anything is the amount of time you exchange for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

For me, when I read this one I think of work. I think of working in jobs that we hate for money instead of spending time doing what we really want to do.

We buy something without factoring in we have to work 3 days in a job we hate or dislike just to be able to pay for it (and it could be broken or out of favor in a year).

This quote reminds me to remember exactly what I am exchanging.

Related post – The Real Cost of Buying Stuff

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” – Carl Sandburg

It might not be work taking up all of our time but other people and I don’t mean the family dropping over unannounced.

I’m talking about comparison.

People don’t have to walk through your front door to take over your time. A LOT of time is wasted on what we think and comparison is probably one of the biggest time wasters of all. While you are focusing on what someone else is doing or has, you aren’t focusing on yourself.

Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations.” – Faith Baldwin

To me, this one rings true on two counts. For starters, time certainly changes things whether it be related to our relationships, bodies, careers, interests….you name it.

On the other hand, I see this quote indicating that time is also a healer.

Time helps us deal with pain, setbacks, and loss. Time alters our perspective on events so they are not as painful.

Ready to dive into books that will have you rethinking how you spend your time? These two books fit the bill.

Time Magic: Reclaim Your Time, Reclaim Your Life by Melissa Amborsini and Nick Broadhurst
Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace Your Limits. Change Your Life. Make Your Four Thousand Weeks Count by Oliver Burkeman

Don’t wait the time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill

Ahhh waiting for the right time! How many of us have done that? I don’t think there would be too many hands that aren’t up at this point.

Sometimes we wait and wait and wait some more because the time is never just right.

We need to accept that sometimes right enough is all we are going to get and we just have to take a leap of faith and dive in.

Someday is not a day of the week.” – Denis Brennan-Nelson

I hear this a lot when it comes to travel. I hear people talking about someday going on that trip they have always wanted to take.

The big problem with someday is that it very rarely arrives. There’s always something that has to get done on the actual days of the week. There are always other priorities.

Don’t book things in for someday, get out a calendar and book something amazing for an actual date, and then start doing whatever you need to do to make it happen!

Related post – The Perils of Someday, One Day and New Year

Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” – Coco Chanel

When I read this quote, I admit my mind jumped to relationships. It jumped to my younger self, dating the guy that I thought would change. Dating the guy who if I just loved him a little bit more would start treating me better.

Not anymore, now I know better.

Stop beating on the wall, walk around it, keep going, and don’t look back.

Related post – Don’t Let Anyone Else Define Your Worth

There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.” – Unknown

When is the right time to give up? When do we say enough, this isn’t working, and focus our efforts on something else? Knowing when to walk away (not to mention actually doing it) can be one of the hardest things to do.

Turn the page or close the book, the choice is up to you.

Related post – 11 Ways You Have More Power Than You Think

Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.” – Henry Ford

This one looks at time (and energy) a little differently. Often we spend far too much time asking how that happened or why did (insert name here) treat me like that?

Often we get stuck on the how and why train when we should be looking for solutions or working on our healing instead.

We should be asking what’s next instead of what happened.

Related post – How to Stop Creating Drama in Your Life

The trouble is, you think you have time.” – Buddha

I’ve used this one before on the blog in other quote posts but this one always rocks me to my core when I read it because I am reminded that we don’t have all the time in the world.

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Altshuler

This is another one of my favorites that I have mentioned before on Write Change Grow.

I just love this one because it reminds me that I do have control (even though it sometimes doesn’t feel that way). Never forget, keep your hands on the wheel – you are the pilot.

Related post – Are You in Control of Your Life?

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” – Bertrand Russell

Let’s lighten things up a little with this one because let’s face it sometimes we just need to chill out and stop being so damn serious!

The time I enjoy wasting the most is always time with my gorgeous boy (he’s my cat in case you are new to this site). I never consider time with him wasted because it fills me with pure joy (even when he wakes me up at 3 in the morning for a cuddle).

I love him to bits and spending time with someone or something you love (who loves you back!) is always a wonderful thing.

I hope you enjoyed these time quotes! 🙂

Time is precious, use it wisely. Make sure you make the most of your precious time.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends on social media.