''Tempus fugit'' is a Latin phrase, usually translated into English as "time flies". The expression comes from line 284 of book 3 of

Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: t ...

's ''

Georgics The ''Georgics'' ( ; ) is a poem by Latin poet Virgil, likely published in 29 BCE. As the name suggests (from the Greek word , ''geōrgika'', i.e. "agricultural (things)") the subject of the poem is agriculture; but far from being an example ...

'', Vergilius Maro, Publius. ''Georgicon'', III. c. 29 BC. Hosted at

Wikisource Wikisource is an online digital library of free-content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Wikisource is the name of the project as a whole and the name for each instance of that project (each instance usually rep ...

. where it appears as ''fugit'' ''inreparabile'' ''tempus'': "it escapes, irretrievable time". The phrase is used in both its Latin and English forms as a

proverb A proverb (from la, proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic speech, formulaic language. A proverbial phra ...

that "time's a-wasting".

Usage

''Tempus fugit'' is typically employed as an admonition against sloth and procrastination (cf. ''

carpe diem is a Latin aphorism, usually translated "seize the day", taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace's work ''Odes'' (23 BC). Translation is the second-person singular present active imperative of '' carpō'' "pick or pluck" used by Horace t ...

'') rather than an argument for licentiousness (cf. " gather ye rosebuds while ye may"); the English form is often merely descriptive: "time flies like the wind", "time flies when you're having fun". The phrase is a common

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

, particularly on sundials and clocks. It also has been used on

gravestones A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a stele or marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. It is traditional for burials in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions, among others. In most cases, it has the deceased's name, da ...

. Some writers have attempted rebuttals: Time goes, you say? Ah, no! alas, time stays, we go. by H(enry) Austin Dobson 1840–1921. 'Hêd Amser! / Meddi Na! / Erys Amser / Dyn Â' on sundial at Univ of Bangor, North Wales. says the sundial was commissioned by Sir William Henry Preece, and offers an English equivalent: Time flies, thou sayest - Nay! Man flies; Time still doth stay. Another English version is: Time Flies, Say Not So: Time Remains,'Tis Man Must Go.

In the ''Georgics''

The phrase's full appearance in Virgil's ''Georgics'' is:

External links

* {{Virgil Latin mottos Latin words and phrases Time management Virgil

Usage

In the ''Georgics''

See also

External links