Never let yesterday use up too much of today.

The line urges a practical kind of resilience: don’t allow past mistakes, regrets, or even yesterday’s successes to consume the limited attention and energy needed for the present. “Yesterday” stands for what cannot be changed; “today” for the only time in which action is possible. The phrasing is characteristically plainspoken and aphoristic, aligning with the popular American tradition of homespun advice often associated with Will Rogers, whether or not he originated this exact wording. Its appeal lies in its economy: it reframes rumination as a form of waste, encouraging forward motion and present-minded decision-making.