“If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.”
Explanation
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin highlights the supreme value of time by framing its misuse as the worst form of wastefulness. The term “prodigality” refers to reckless extravagance, often in relation to money. By applying it to time, Franklin stresses that squandering time is more ruinous than squandering wealth, because time, once lost, can never be recovered.
This principle is central to Franklin’s lifelong advocacy for discipline, industry, and purposeful living. In an age when time was directly tied to labor, productivity, and survival, Franklin urged people to treat time as their most valuable possession. Through works like Poor Richard’s Almanack, he taught that success and virtue are built on wise time management, and that idleness leads to both moral and material decline.
Today, in an era of constant distraction and digital overload, Franklin’s message is more urgent than ever. Whether scrolling endlessly, procrastinating, or neglecting meaningful goals, wasting time erodes potential and undermines achievement. His quote serves as a powerful reminder that time is life’s most irreplaceable resource, and that how we use it ultimately defines the substance and impact of our lives.
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