Time Management Quotes That Will Inspire You & Your Team

Time ― the immeasurable wealth everyone owns. Once lost, it’s never coming back.

And so, your time management capability defines results.

Whether you're leading a team or managing projects, utilize time smartly to drive success.

The right habits build lasting outcomes. And all the successful people in the world have mastered this craft.

Let’s quickly go through what they thought about time management.

Best Time Management Quotes

Below are the top 10 famous quotes about time management said by 10 of the world’s most famous men across eras.

1. “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”

Said by: William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet, and actor.

So, as we saw that wasting time is one of the bad things we are doing, we often feel this is important to acknowledge, but it's sometimes too late. So we should make a possible early turn on this, and we should not dare to waste any hours of life.

The epoch-maker English playwright wisely advised us to stay ahead of time by even three hours rather than to make a delay of just a second. There's no shame in attending an important session earlier than the projected time. However, being late won't do any good to anyone, no matter how worthy you think that is.

We all understand that each person's value in life varies, and based on our birthdate, we can see that this particular event is one of the most important aspects of time. As we develop into adults and gradually age, we must complete many tasks that we should have planned from the beginning.

Without planning, approaching life would be a bit tough, and once you are planning for something, you have done 40% of your job. That's why you should plan to attend something or do something of value earlier than the time fixed for that. If you can't do that, don't try to find excuses- it simply doesn't work.

2. “The trouble is you think you have time.”

Said By: Jack Kornfield, American author, and teacher.

This one of the funny time management quotes by Jack Kornfield yet it has an implicit wit. We all have this sort of goal to put our job off till later in the day so that we can rest and enjoy the day today; nevertheless, when this time rolls around, we find ourselves in a bind.

We are constantly under the impression that the ideal moment and place will present themselves and that we will be able to deliver our best work on time.

In reality, we become entangled in another assignment, and we frequently experience difficulties meeting deadlines in this manner. This approach often leads to a lack of time for completing essential tasks properly.

People who engage in these behaviors frequently experience decreased productivity at their jobs and are generally dissatisfied with their jobs.

People who are punctual enough can conceptualize the actual value of time, thus helping increase workplace productivity.

Productive people understand that effective time management is crucial for both personal and professional success.

As an alternative to having them, we may all concentrate on our daily activities and create an attitude in which that specific activity will be accomplished within a specified time frame, rather than extending it for our current enjoyment; this is the worst habit we all want to break!

3. “Time is a created thing, To say, “I don’t have time is to say, ‘I don’t want to."

Said By: Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher and writer.

It is true that the great Chinese philosopher spoke everything he needed to say about the most precious time before passing away, but this time management quote is something that cannot be expressed in a thousand pages.

The passage of time was the same here and there, but the effects were different, as were the perceptions. We are all aware of the importance of time and the effective usage of our lives.

Understanding different quotes about time management can help us develop a better perspective on time.

However, we are also oblivious to the fate of our generation, which is a mistake.

Before we make any excuses in our minds, we should remember that we should not overestimate our abilities based on outward appearances; while the human mind is vital to the analysis, thinking about nature is always realistic and shifting in nature.

As a result, thinking negatively will lower your management abilities. People frequently think compassionately when they are on the road, since what they believe and what they explore has a different sense of time from what they are used to.

That’s why, never claim you don't have time to finish something when you can complete it now.

4. “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

Said by: William Penn, English writer and religious thinker.

Exceeding the speed limit without a plan is dangerous and can result in severe injury or death. It has been established that you will be highly active if you do not have a vision for your life and do not have a good strategy for the next step.

It is always a good idea to use time efficiently, and as William Penn mentioned in his inspirational remarks, there is nothing more desirable than time. We make a huge mistake in thinking that we have a lot of time on our hands, but this thinking is repetitive and recurring. It pushes you to the edge of your time limit, and suddenly you start realizing how badly you’ve conjectured the fast flow of time.

As a result, laughter, tears, and happiness should be shared, but you must recognize the value of time and use it the way you want it.

It would be best to move forward with appropriate planning and continually review your plans before implementing them because they will impact your subsequent steps.

Effective time management involves making each worthwhile task count toward your goals.

5. “Tough time never lasts, but tough people do.”

Said By: Robert H. Schuller, American pastor, motivational speaker, and author.

If you look around your area, think, is there anyone without a problem in life? Is there even one on the planet? Don't think about your next door; are they delighted with their lives? Still, they are surviving on this planet to live with the last thing they can afford in their life.

There will be difficult times in our lives, yet we should not give up because of trivial consequences.

We can move on with the best strategy we can devise; we can deal with challenges and develop better time management techniques to navigate through tough periods. And thus, can avoid burnout to stay productive.

Consider taking on more challenges; you will be amazed by God eventually if you can perform at your peak even when things are at their worst; remember not to give up hope at any cost.

If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you should be aware that there are options for getting out of your predicament.

If you also look at the most famous people worldwide, they are in their position just with their patience and their time management for every move.

They made mistakes, and they solved that too. You should overcome all these possible obstructions in life and be successful with your definition.

6. “Time and the hour run through the roughest day.”

Said By: William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet, and actor.

There will be difficult times in our lives, yet we should not give up because of trivial consequences. The words for time management by the great English Playwright William Shakespeare similarly prescribed to us.

We can move on with the best strategy we can devise; we can deal with challenges and maintain a productive life. With the strategies that we have learned throughout our lives.

Consider taking on more challenges; you will be amazed by God eventually if you can perform at your peak performance even when things are at their worst; just remember not to give up hope at any cost.

If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you should be aware that there are options for getting out of your dilemma.

7. “Punctuality is the thief of time.”

Said By: Oscar Wilde, Irish poet, and playwright.

Punctuality is defined as being on time; we are not recommending that you be on time in every element of your life today; nonetheless, you can strive to be more punctual in order to achieve more success in your life.

To get further, you can take small tactics and work on them, and to get even further, you can take multiple motivated actions all on your own.

You may master your timing in order to get greater opportunities. Identify what you have to gain in your life. And learn what works for you and what does not.

By doing so, you can make use of your essential timing talent. Maintaining regular hours and establishing a consistent daily routine would make you more punctual. If you followed the requirements that you were given throughout this step.

So, try to stay one step ahead of your allocated time in different scenarios and see how you can steal the show everywhere. and avoid any waste of time by exploring different resources such as online courses, productivity books, and time management apps.

8. “The way we spend our time, defines who we are.”

Said By: Jonathan Estrin, American Producer, writer & actor.

Each hour, minute, and second of our lives is critical, and the way we spend them determines what and who we are as individuals. However, not all of us are good at managing the workload and optimizing our time on tasks.

You are consistently working toward your dream, and you have a specific objective in mind as well; in order to take advantage of this, we simply need to get back on track with what we are doing.

Ordinary people often struggle with time management. But those who develop effective time management practices excel.

Your identity is defined by time, which decides what and how your time should be spent; we are conditioned to neglect and fail to recognize our time in almost every part of our lives; as a result, you should be knowledgeable about time and how it should be spent.

Living a busy life requires careful attention to how we allocate our hours per day.

9.“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Said By: Steve Jobs, American business magnate, industrial designer, media proprietor, and investor.

We are all familiar with Steve Jobs and what he has accomplished in his life, but few of us are familiar with the process by which he accomplished it. He dropped out of college and went on to start an amazing firm known as Apple. Jobs used all of his inventions and ideas to mold his life, and he also made his life more of a fulfillment of his dreams by putting them into action.

Always keep your attention on what you require; you will eventually discover what makes you happy and perform something that will leave you satisfied, which will eventually make you excellent.

Making a solid decision to focus on your priorities rather than following others' expectations is crucial.

In order to make the most of your limited time, don't be a slacker and invent something that will be useful to the rest of the population. Time budgeting will help you immensely in this regard. You may do this from anywhere, from your workplace to your study room to a lab room, and it will be appreciated by everyone.

10. “We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.”

Said By: John F. Kennedy, American politician & 35th US President.

We know what our most rewarding job for the day will be before we make a single move in our lives; nevertheless, we often forget what else needs to be done as a result of following this plan. To put it another way, you should spend your time living your life rather than simply following the clock.

Not the time that should be encouraging you about your life, but your own time will be nurtured. In life, we are all aware that we are working toward our objectives, but we might lose sight of this by following someone else's timetable. When we notice that others are achieving success with their timetable, we begin to follow suit, and the process becomes a vicious cycle.

It should appear as if you are following your religion and objectives with your time, rather than with the time of others. You will be a master of your own time in this manner, and you will be successful in your life as well.

In a word, Time has always been your weapon. It's your choice whether you want to use the weapon for you or against you. So, learn to unveil the secrets of shifting the productivity gears upward and embrace a daily decrease in unproductive activities. If needed, change the team’s work schedule to make things more flexible and accessible.

More Life-changing Time Management Quotes to Become Successful

1. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” — Abraham Lincoln

2. “Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” — Thomas Jefferson

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

4. “Time is one thing that can never be retrieved… But the hours that are lost in idleness can never be brought back to be used in gainful pursuits.” — Winston Churchill

5. “The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” —  Stephen R. Covey

6. “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.”— Stephen Covey

7.  “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” — Albert Einstein

8. “The distinction between the past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” — Albert Einstein

9. “Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed.” — Peter Drucker

10. “Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” — Peter F. Drucker

11. “There is never enough time, unless you're serving it.” — Malcolm S. Forbes

12. “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.” —  Michael Altshuler

13. “You may delay, but time will not.” — Benjamin Franklin

14. “A lack of a sense of urgency is a serious danger.” — Thomas Sowell

15. “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

16. “In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is wanting.” ― John Lubbock.

17. “Transform a wish into a goal by putting a date on it.” ― Peter Turla

18.  “To choose time is to save time.” ― Francis Bacon

19. “Time management requires self‑discipline, self‑mastery, and self‑control more than anything else.” ― Brian Tracy.

20. “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” ― Alexander Graham Bell

21. “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” ―  Andy Warhol

22. “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done.” ―  Bruce Lee

23. “An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you cannot buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.” ― Chinese Proverb

24. “Time stays long enough for those who use it. “ ― Leonardo Da Vinci

25. "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." ― Leo Tolstoy

Final Thoughts

In the end, we can understand how time is essential in our lives and thereby introduce a remote work monitoring system where you can make a record of your time and productivity percentages day-wise, and this will increase productivity in our day-to-day work; it can be an office or remote job. Also, a few supporting tools will be a plus point to manage the time, such as projects, tasks, and payroll.

So, let us know in the comment section which of the above quotes about time management crossed your mind. And lifted your mood to stand up and act. Share this article with your friends to make the world more productive, just like what Apploye is doing right now!

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Management Quotes

What is the best quote about time?

"Time waits for no one." This old quote hits hard. It reminds us to act now before it’s too late. Use your time. Don’t lose it.

What was Steve Jobs time management quotes?

Steve Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” Simple but powerful. It emphasises the value of each second.

What does Elon Musk say about time management?

Elon Musk says, “Focus on signal over noise.” Cut the fluff. Work on what matters. That’s how he saves time and builds fast.

What are 5 motivational quotes?

5 motivational quotes are “Do it now”, “Make each day count”, “Don’t wait. Start”, “Small steps lead far” and “Time flies”.

What taught you the importance of time management?

Missing deadlines, rushing tasks, and feeling lost are the moments moments taught me the importance of time management. Time is the most loyal partner, but it can also become the worst enemy.

How to improve time management?

Start with a small step. Plan your day. Set real goals. Avoid distractions. Track your time. This will bring a big change.

Why is time management important?

Time is life. You waste it. You lose everything. Plan smart to win. With time management, you get more done with less stress.