It seems being wise involves a way of life, without getting caught up in the hows of life. Enjoy this page of wisdom quotes, it has been inspired by the wise people I've met in my life. The Wisdom Almost every wise saying has an opposite one.
We kill time. We save time. We rob and get robbed of time, we lose time, and we have all the time in the world. But no one of us is powerful enough to stop the march of time or slow it down.
Is it something far beyond our control? In fact, no. While we cannot influence the flow of time, we still can get the most out of it. Becoming a wise time manager sometimes is similar to mastering a sorcery, but the results are worth the effort.
Being the master of your time means getting more done, staying energized, and doing more things you enjoy. We’ve collected the best time quotes from the greatest minds of the world – use them as an inspiration or as guidelines for improving your time management.
Great minds of different nations and centuries have been wondering how time flows and figuring out better ways to use it for our benefit. Let’s look at these pieces of wisdom and sometimes humor. We definitely have something to learn from them!
Leo Tolstoy, the greatest humanist, put these words in General Kutuzov’s mouth. And, actually, it is a combination of two quotes. In book ten, the General says:
Later, he repeats this idea in his thought: .
By the way, check out more Leo Tolstoy’s quotes in Twitter @TolstoySays and find humanistic wisdom and daily insights.
Probably, the most famous quote about time by Benjamin Franklin, a person known by his productivity and various talents. In his 84 years, he became not only a prominent politician and diplomat, but also an actor, musician, inventor, and satirist.
As for his famous saying, it refers to the concept of opportunity cost. This means, each choice you make has its cost, and delays (as a choice to not take action) usually lead to decrease in output.
The earliest record of this phrase is dated 1225 – before English was shaped in the modern form. The origin is uncertain, so it’s considered to be a proverbial wisdom. It means that no man has enough power to stop time or to change its course.
Better spend time waiting for the opportunity to take an action than miss the chance. In Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”, the phrase is said by a character who suspects his wife’s infidelity, but in fact, it can be applied to any situation when you need to take a chance to change things.
You can’t keep today’s hour for tomorrow – we all know that, but still tend to procrastinate. Benjamin Franklin warns that time is a scarce resource, and if it’s wasted, it cannot be recovered later. This is why mindful planning and work on productivity are so important.
Ancient Greek philosophy is known by its combination of merely theoretical thoughts and practical approach. Theophrastus understood time as an accident of motion that cannot be stopped or reversed, and he said that waste of time is the most extravagant and costly of all expenses.
Pericles, the influential ancient Greek statesman and general, was a rationalist and knew the value of time. His famous phrase was said as a warning for Tolmides, the young Athenian general who intended to invade Boeotia. Eventually Tolmides failed to listen to Pericles’ words, his army suffered a heavy defeat and he died in the battle. This quote is a warning against premature decisions and poor judgement caused by the lack of time.
A quote by Stephen R. Covey, the author of the famous time management matrix. You can spend time on useful and useless things, but if you call it “investing”, you’ll definitely invest it in something that has value and importance for you. So choose your goals wisely so that time you spend on them becomes an investment, not an expense.
If we truly love something, we spend (or invest?) time in it. As time is a valuable resource, when invested, it makes the person, goal or activity even more important for us. But there’s a negative side too. Sometimes we hold on to the past and to the irrelevant goals just because we already spent too much time on them.
The phrase that looks like a joke for most of us, is the truth of a complete hedonist. Oscar Wilde is being at his best: the meaning of his quote is that when you invest effort in someone else’s comfort (like hurrying because someone is waiting), you sacrifice your own time that you could spend on much more pleasant things.
People have always been considering time as a relentless and cruel force, a robber, and a killer. Looks like a depressive poetic phrase, and the realization that it is not possible to control the course of time is even more sad. But good news is that time is a valuable resource that each of us has, and we can use it at our own discretion and for our benefit.
How often do we understand that we could use our time better, and regret that we didn’t spend it wisely? How often do we dream of how good it would be to amend things we did or didn’t do long ago? The older we get, the longer and thicker are the shadows of the past, and what’s important here is not holding on to them. We cannot turn the clock back, but we can do our best today to make tomorrow a happier time.
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day – and later realizing that you never make up for the lost time: the cycle familiar to any of us. While it is not possible to completely avoid it, we should never forget that we can’t reclaim the time we wasted, and spend it on things we love and need.
While we cannot do anything about how fast the time flows, we still can control how we use it. Being more energized and productive helps us live to the fullest. Always remember what your goals are, get more done, and try new things to find all of your talents.
The nature of time is a complex thing. Scientists, poets, and philosophers explain it differently, and many of us have our own understanding of what it is and how it works, and – what’s more important from the practical point of view – how it influences us and how we influence it.
Time, poetically depicted as a relentless thief, scientifically explained as the fourth dimension, and practically seen as a valuable and limited resource, is one of the biggest riddles of the universe. The truth is, our decisions and actions define whether it is our enemy or ally. Taking control of our time means living our own life – not someone else’s – and getting the most out of it.
Wise Quotes and Sayings: Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, anymore than standing in your Being quiet is fine, most people don't listen anyways.
76 Wise QuotesLet these wise quotes remind you of life lessons that bring us wisdom and build our character. Be inspired and encouraged by these words. |
     |
Home » Browse Quotes By Subject » Wise
Popular | Latest | Images
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, anymore than standing in your garage makes you a car.
I moaned because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
Keep smiling… It makes people wonder what you’ve been up to. :)
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
– Martin Luther King Jr
Never argue with an idiot they’ll drag you down to their level and beat you through experience
Why do we kill people who kill people to show people that killing people is wrong???
Opportunities slide away like clouds. (Prophet Mohammad (s))
Revenge is a Poison meant for others, which we end up swallowing ourselves.
Vengence is a Dark Light that blinds all who seek it.
Don’t argue with Idiots.. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
Faith looks up!!
If you argue with an idiot, after a while it is hard to tell who the real idiot is.
Being quiet is fine, most people don’t listen anyways.
Victory is gained by resolution and determination. (Prophet Mohammad (s))
Empty cans make the most noise.
The wisest of people in this world are those that admit when they are wrong.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
I’m just human, I have weaknesses, I make mistakes and I experience sadness; But I learn from all these things to make me a better person.
Those who fail to prepare, are preparing to fail.
When you point a finger at someone you also have 3 fingers pointing at yourself, that means you must have a look at yourself at least 3 times before judging someone else.
LEARN from yesterday, LIVE for today, and HOPE for tomorrow.
He who indulges in a task without proper knowledge will deteriorate rather than improve the case. (Prophet Mohammad (s))
Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.
– Lao Tzu
Never hate people who are jealous of you, but respect their jealousy because they’re the ones who think you’re better than them.
There is no good in extravagence, however, there can never be extravagence in good deeds. (Prophet Mohammad (s))
Never expect anything.
This way, you’ll never be disappointed.
Never challenge an old man, because if you lose, you’ve lost to an old man, and if you win, so what?
Tough times never last, but tough people do.
If you are not happy being single, you will never be happy in a relationship. Get your own life first, then share it.
If you can’t cook don’t tell someone their food needs salt.
Never wrestle with a pig- you both get dirty but the pig likes it.
Better slow going somewhere than fast going nowhere.
Share it:FacebookTwitter
12345Next »
You are here: Home / Wise Quotes and Sayings To Ponder Edmund Burke. Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.
1 A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
鸟儿唱歌不是因为它们有了答案，而是因为它们有歌要唱。
niǎor chànggē bú shì yīnwèi tāmen yǒule dáàn ，érshì yīnwèi tāmen yǒu gē yào chàng 。
鸟(bird)儿(suffix, no meaning)唱(sing)歌(song)不(not)是(is/be)因为(because)它们(they)有(have)了(past tense marker)答案(answer)，而是(but)因为(because)它们(they)有(have)歌(song)要(want to)唱(sing)。
2 A book holds a house of gold.
书中自有黄金屋。
shū zhōng zì yǒu huángjīn wū 。
书(book)中(within)自(itself)有(have)黄金(gold)屋(house)
3 A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
书是随身携带的花园。
shū shì suíshēn xiédài de huāyuán 。
书(book)是(is)随身(to (carry) on one’s person)携带(carry/bring)的(connecting particle)花园(garden)。
4 A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.
赠人玫瑰，手有余香。
zèng rén méiguī ，shǒu yǒuyú xiāng 。
赠(give)人(person/people)玫瑰(roses)，手(hand)有(have)余(lingering)香(fragrance)。
5 A filthy mouth will not utter decent language.
狗嘴里吐不出象牙。
gǒu zuǐlǐ tǔ bù chū xiàngyá 。
狗(dog)嘴(mouth)里(within)吐不出(not able to utter out/ spit out)象牙(ivory / elephant tusk )。
6 A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections.
宁做有瑕玉，不做无暇石。
nìng zuò yǒu xiá yù ，bú zuò wúxiá shí 。
宁(rather to)做(be)有(have)瑕(flaw)玉(jade)，不(not)做(to be)无(none)暇(flaw)石(stone)。
7 A gem will be polished without carving and polishing, nor a man perfected without trials.
玉不琢、不成器。
yù bù zhuó 、bùchéng qì 。
玉(jade)不(not)琢(cut/refine)、不(not)成(become)器(device / tool / utensil )。
8 Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
不怕慢,就怕停。
bú pà màn ,jiù pà tíng 。
不(not)怕(afraid)慢(slowness),就(just)怕(fear/afraid)停(stop)。
9 Deep doubts, deep wisdom; small doubts, little wisdom.
疑惑深，智慧深；疑惑浅，智慧浅。
yíhuò shēn ，zhìhuì shēn ；yíhuò jiān ，zhìhuì jiān 。
疑惑(doubt)深(deep)，智慧(wisdom)深(deep)；疑惑(doubt)浅(shallow)，智慧(wisdom)浅(shallow)。
10 When you drink the water, remember the spring.
饮水思源。
yǐn shuǐ sī yuán 。
饮(drink)水(water)思(think of)源(source of water)。
11 A thousand cups of wine do not suffice when true friends meet, but half a sentence is too much when there is no meeting of minds.
酒逢知己千杯少，话不投机半句多。
jiǔ féng zhījǐ qiān bēi shǎo ，huà bù tóu jī bàn jù duō 。
酒(wine)逢(meet)知己(person who knows myself)千(thousand)杯(sup)少(few)，话(word)不(not)投机(congenial/agreeable)半(half)句(sentence)多(many)。
12 If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him.
天生我材必有用。
tiān shēng wǒ cái bì yǒu yòng 。
天(haven)生(give birth to)我(my)材(ability)必(must)有(have)用(usage)。
13 Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
授人以鱼不如授人以渔。
shòu rén yǐ yú bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú 。
授(give)人(people)以(with)鱼(fish)不如(rather)授(give)人(person/people)以(with)渔(fishing)。
14 Dig the well before you are thirsty.
未雨绸缪。
wèi yǔ chóumóu 。
未(not yet)雨(rain)绸缪(bind around with silk (idiom, from Book of Songs 詩經｜诗经); fig. to plan ahead)。
15 Each generation will reap what the former generation has sown.
To enjoy the benefits of the hard work of one’s predecessors.
前人栽树，后人乘凉。
qián rén zāi shù,hòu rén chéng liáng 。
前(former)人(people)栽(plant)树(trees)，后(later)人(people)乘凉(to cool off in the shade)。
16 Do good, reap good; do evil, reap evil.
善有善报，恶有恶报。
shàn yǒu shàn bào,è yǒu è bào 。
善(goodness)有(have)善(good)报(repay)，恶(badness)有(have)恶(bad)报(retribution)。
17 If you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it.
若要人不知，除非己莫为。
ruò yào rén bù zhī,chú fēi jǐ mò wéi 。
若(if)要(want)人(people)不(not)知(know)，除非(unless)己(oneself)莫(not)为(do)。
18 Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.
师傅领进门，修行在个人。
shīfu lǐng jìn mén ，xiūxíng zài gèrén 。
师傅(master/ teacher)领(bring)进(enter)门(door)，修行(cultivate/
religious practice (Buddhism) )在(depend on)个人(self)。
19 Studying is like rowing upstream: no advance is to drop back.
学如逆水行舟，不进则退。
xué rú nì shuǐ xíng zhōu ，bú bú jìn zé tuì 。
学(study)如(is like)逆(against)水(water)行(row)舟(boat)，不(not)进(advance)则( conjunction used to express contrast with a previous sentence or clause/then)退(retreat)。
20 If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
忍得一时之氣，免得百日之忧。
rěn dé yīì zhī qì，miǎn de bǎi rì zhī yōu。
忍(tolerate)得(particle)一(one)时(time)之(connecting particle)氣(anger)，免(save)得(particle)百(hundred)日(day)之(connecting particle)忧(sorrow)。
The proverb, Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still ( 不怕慢,就怕停 bú pà màn, jiù pà tíng ), made me recall this song.
Standing still – Jewel (lyrics)
This entry was posted in Chinese proverbs, English song, Quotes and tagged Chinese, English translation, ji, pinyin. Bookmark the permalink.
Here we bring you wise sayings, an extensive collection of inspirational, motivational and “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.
