Without haste, but without rest.

The maxim urges a disciplined tempo: proceed calmly and deliberately (“without haste”), yet persist steadily and continuously (“without rest”). It rejects two common failures of work and life—frantic speed that sacrifices judgment, and complacent delay that stalls progress. Read as a Goethean ideal of self-cultivation, it aligns with the notion of sustained Bildung: growth achieved through consistent effort rather than bursts of inspiration or anxious striving. The phrase has also been adopted as a motto in educational and civic contexts because it captures a practical ethic of perseverance—measured action, long-term commitment, and patient productivity.