Quote #203597
Time and tide wait for no man.
Geoffrey Chaucer
About This Quote
This quote needs no introduction—at least for now. We're working on adding more context soon.
Interpretation
The proverb warns that time’s passage is indifferent to individual wishes: opportunities, deadlines, aging, and change continue regardless of delay or hesitation. By pairing “time” with “tide,” it draws on a natural image of an unstoppable, cyclical force—suggesting that human plans must accommodate larger rhythms rather than expect them to pause. The saying is commonly used as practical counsel: act promptly, because postponement can mean missing the moment when action is possible or effective. Although often attributed to Chaucer, the familiar modern wording functions more as a later English proverb than a line securely traceable to him.
Variations
Time and tide wait for no man.
Time and tide wait for no one.
Time waits for no man.
