Top 40+ Time Management Quotes To Help You Prioritize, Stay Focused, and Productive

As productivity advocates, we know that time is the most precious resource we have and should be managed very carefully. We often forget about the essence of time management, and having access to some well-sought learnings or words that stood the test of time is much welcome.

Time should be carefully managed and spent on what matters most, whether pursuing one's passions, innovating, or making important decisions. We would also like to stress the importance of focusing on what's essential and avoiding distractions, a key aspect of effective time management. In essence, we should use time as a precious commodity wisely to achieve our goals and make a difference in the world. In the following section, we share some quotes that have influenced us and stood the test of time. Enjoy.

Popular quotes about time

"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 the founder of Taoism suggests that time is not an external constraint but a construct of human perception. This quote emphasizes that when someone claims they don't have time for something, it often implies a lack of prioritization or motivation rather than an actual absence of time.


"Time is a commodity that cannot be bought, sold, or traded. It is the most valuable thing a person can spend." - Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar, a renowned American author and motivational speaker, highlights the significance of time as an invaluable resource. This quote emphasizes that time is irreplaceable and should be utilized wisely since it cannot be bought or sold like other commodities.


"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." - Theophrastus

Theophrastus, an ancient Greek philosopher, and successor of Aristotle, acknowledges the immense value of time. This quote implies that time is a precious asset that should be spent judiciously since it cannot be regained once lost.


"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist, suggests that time moves swiftly and constantly progresses, leaving behind traces and memories. This quote conveys time's transient nature and its lasting impact on our lives.


"Time and tide wait for no man." - Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet from the Middle Ages, expresses the idea that time and the natural forces of the tide do not wait for anyone. This quote conveys the notion that time is relentless and continues to move forward without consideration for human desires or delays.


"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

Pericles, an influential Athenian statesman, and orator, acknowledges the wisdom that can be gained from the passage of time. This quote suggests that time provides valuable insights and perspectives, making it a wise advisor.


"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." - William Penn

William Penn, an English writer and philosopher, emphasizes the paradoxical nature of time. This quote suggests that while people desire more time, they often fail to utilize it effectively or efficiently.


"The trouble is, you think you have time." - Buddha

Buddha, the spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism, points out a common misconception about time. This quote implies that people tend to assume they have more time than they actually do, leading to procrastination or neglect of important matters.


"All time management begins with planning." - Tom Greening

Tom Greening, an author and expert in organizational psychology, highlights the importance of planning in effective time management. This quote suggests that organizing and structuring activities through planning is a fundamental step in making the most of one's time.


"Lost time is never found again." - Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, emphasizes the irretrievable nature of time once it is lost. This quote serves as a reminder to value and utilize time wisely since it cannot be recovered once wasted.


"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." - Unknown

This quote by an unknown author suggests that the key to shaping one's future lies in the consistent habits and actions practiced daily. It emphasizes the significance of daily routines and their cumulative impact on achieving long-term goals.


“Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!” - Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins, a well-known motivational speaker and life coach, highlights the common tendency for individuals to overestimate short-term accomplishments and underestimate long-term achievements. This quote emphasizes the importance of mastering time management and having a long-term perspective for true success.


"Time is a created thing. Eternity is not." - Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, an American writer and poet, reflects on the nature of time and eternity. This quote suggests that while time is a human construct, eternity exists beyond the limitations of time.


Inspirational quotes about time

 

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." - Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace.

 

"Every day is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we've got 24 hours each." — Christopher Rice

 

"Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead." — Hans Christian Andersen

 

"Better three hours too soon than one minute too late." - William Shakespeare

 

"Lost time is never found again." - Benjamin Franklin

 

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." - Unknown

 

"Time is the most precious thing in the world because it is something that you can never get back." - Elizabeth Gilbert

 

“Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!” - Tony Robbins

 

"Time is what we make of it, and it is always running out." - Unknown

 

"Time is a scarce resource, and it should be used wisely." - Unknown

 

"Time is a nonrenewable resource, and it should be used with intention and purpose." - Unknown

 

"Time is the most valuable thing you can spend, and it's the one thing you can never get back." - Unknown

 

"Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change." Thomas Hardy

 

"Where your attention goes, your time goes."― Idowu Koyenikan

 

"Time is the most valuable asset you have, and it's the one thing you can't get more of." - Unknown

 

"I don’t have time is just saying it’s not a priority." - Naval Ravikant

 

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent." - Carl Sandburg

 

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." - C.S. Lewis

 

"Time is a storm in which we are all lost." - William Carlos Williams

 

"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." —Marthe Troly-Curtin

 

"Aside from Velcro, time is the most mysterious substance in the universe. You can't see it or touch it, yet a plumber can charge you upwards of $75 per hour for it without necessarily fixing anything.” —Dave Barry

 

"No measure of time with you will be long enough. But let's start with forever." — Stephenie Meyer, Breaking Dawn

 

Quotes about on time management

 

"If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done." — Bruce Lee

 

"Time management is life management." - Robin Sharma 

 

"There's only one thing more precious than our time and that's who we spend it on." Leo Christopher

 

"Time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. Priority management is the answer to maximizing the time we have." - John C. Maxwell

 

"Your greatest asset is your earning ability. Your greatest resource is your time." -Brian Tracy

 

"The best time to start was last year. Failing that, today will do." - Chris Guillebeau

 

"One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular." - Tony Robbins

 

"You may delay, but time will not." - Benjamin Franklin

 

"Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed." - Peter Druker

 

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." -Mike Murdock

 

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." ― Michael Altshuler

 

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." - Albert Einstein

 

"Time does not change us. It just unfolds us." —Max Frisch

 

"The present time has one advantage over every other—it is our own." —Charles Caleb Colton

 

Quotes about using time efficiently

 

"Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow." - Anonymous

 

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." - J. R. R. Tolkien

 

"A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life" - Charles Darwin

 

"Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can't afford to lose." - Thomas Edison

 

"It's not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?" - Henry David Thoreau

 

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." - Stephen R. Covey

 

"It’s not that we have a little time, but more that we waste a good deal of it." - Seneca

 

"My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. it's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time." - Steve Jobs

 

"Time is a precious commodity, and we should treat it as such." - Unknown