--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Regret for time wasted can become a power…" description: "\"Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.\" — Arthur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png" --- # Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the… ![“Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.” quote by Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png) > “Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.” [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret over past inefficiencies can be transformed into motivation to act purposefully in the present, provided one ceases unproductive rumination. **In simple terms:** Turn regret into proactive use of remaining time. Key Takeaway Regret fuels action when idle time stops. Themes self-improvement time management motivation mindfulness productivity Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - after a missed deadline - during a career transition - when reflecting on wasted hours Key Concepts regret efficiency intentionality Practical Applications - personal goal setting - coaching sessions Questions to Reflect On - How can you convert past regrets into present momentum? - What habits prevent idle regret? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time wasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-wasted/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [We waste half our strength in a useless regretting; We sit by old tombs in the dark too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/we-waste-half-our-strength-in-a-useless-regretting-we-sit-by-old/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Time will make it worse! You're...the other half of his soul. He's never going to get over you. And no matter how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/time-will-make-it-worse-you-re-the-other-half-of-his-soul-he-s-never/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I never regret anything I have done in my past..I only regret the time wasted with the wrong people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-never-regret-anything-i-have-done-in-my-past-i-only-regret-the-time/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“almost nothing was more annoying than having our wasted time wasted on something not worth wasting it on”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/almost-nothing-was-more-annoying-than-having-our-wasted-time-wasted/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [He believed that he must, that he could and would recover the good things, the happy things, the easy tranquil things of life. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/he-believed-that-he-must-that-he-could-and-would-recover-the-good/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Creativity is the residue of time wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/creativity-is-the-residue-of-time-wasted/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Time is never wasted when you're wasted all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zandonella/time-is-never-wasted-when-you-re-wasted-all-the-time/) Catherine Zandonella > [“Wasting time over wasted time is just more wasted time...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/animesh-singh/wasting-time-over-wasted-time-is-just-more-wasted-time/) Animesh Singh > [time wasted is not always a waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-blackstock/time-wasted-is-not-always-a-waste-of-time/) [Terri Blackstock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-blackstock/) > [If you enjoyed the time you wasted, then it wasn't wasted time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-enjoyed-the-time-you-wasted-then-it-wasn-t-wasted-time/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Time is never wasted when youre wasted all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-never-wasted-when-youre-wasted-all-the-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a waste of time to see people who have only a social surface to show. I will make every effort to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/it-is-a-waste-of-time-to-see-people-who-have-only-a-social-surface-to/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Among life's regrets is all the time wasted being early for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/among-life-s-regrets-is-all-the-time-wasted-being-early-for-everything/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Evelyn Waugh was in error when he said that in New York there was a neurosis in the air which the inhabitants mistook for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/evelyn-waugh-was-in-error-when-he-said-that-in-new-york-there-was-a/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Lack of genius never held anyone back. Only time wasted on resentment and daydreaming can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/lack-of-genius-never-held-anyone-back-only-time-wasted-on-resentment/) [Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/) ## More by Arthur Brisbane > [Among the aimless, unsuccessful or worthless, you often hear talk about 'killing time.' The man who is always killing time is really killing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/among-the-aimless-unsuccessful-or-worthless-you-often-hear-talk-about/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Whatever good there is in small boys is usually based upon their admiration for girls of their own age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/whatever-good-there-is-in-small-boys-is-usually-based-upon-their/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Wine is the most noble and beneficial of alcoholic drinks. Wine is for the sedentary whose work is thinking. Natural wines have been used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/wine-is-the-most-noble-and-beneficial-of-alcoholic-drinks-wine-is-for/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [If you don't hit a newspaper reader between the eyes with your first sentence, there is no need of writing a second one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/if-you-don-t-hit-a-newspaper-reader-between-the-eyes-with-your-first/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [The commonest form, one of the most often neglected, and the safest opportunity for the average man to seize, is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/the-commonest-form-one-of-the-most-often-neglected-and-the-safest/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Opportunity comes like a snail, and once it has passed you it changes into a fleet rabbit and is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/opportunity-comes-like-a-snail-and-once-it-has-passed-you-it-changes/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [That Edison or Lincoln could have been Edison or Lincoln after four years of Harvard is improbable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/that-edison-or-lincoln-could-have-been-edison-or-lincoln-after-four/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [While the fool is enjoying the little he has, I will hunt for more. The way to hunt for more is to utilize your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/while-the-fool-is-enjoying-the-little-he-has-i-will-hunt-for-more-the/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Every minute that you save by making it useful, more profitable, is so much added to your life and its possibilities. Every minute lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/every-minute-that-you-save-by-making-it-useful-more-profitable-is-so/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Hang your idea on a peg that all can read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/hang-your-idea-on-a-peg-that-all-can-read/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Time is the one thing we possess. Our success depends upon the use of our time, and its by-product, the odd moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/time-is-the-one-thing-we-possess-our-success-depends-upon-the-use-of/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [A newspaper is a mirror reflecting the public, a mirror more or less defective, but still a mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/a-newspaper-is-a-mirror-reflecting-the-public-a-mirror-more-or-less/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/use-a-picture-it-s-worth-a-thousand-words/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Get away from the crowd when you can. Keep yourself to yourself, if only for a few hours daily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/get-away-from-the-crowd-when-you-can-keep-yourself-to-yourself-if/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/a-good-friend-can-tell-you-what-is-the-matter-with-you-in-a-minute-he/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) [Explore all 20 Arthur Brisbane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) ## More Idle quotes > [Nature, being a wise and provident lady, governs her parts very wisely, methodically, and orderly: Also, she is very industrious and hates to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/nature-being-a-wise-and-provident-lady-governs-her-parts-very-wisely/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [I'm homosexual. How and why are idle questions. It's a little like wanting to know why my eyes are green.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-genet/i-m-homosexual-how-and-why-are-idle-questions-it-s-a-little-like/) [Jean Genet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-genet/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/life-is-not-long-and-too-much-of-it-must-not-pass-in-idle/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think my parents recognised that I'd always wanted to be a writer, and so they didn't think that this was some idle, faddish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-think-my-parents-recognised-that-i-d-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Spring comes with flowers, autumn with the moon, summer with the breeze, winter with snow. When idle concerns don't fill your thoughts, that's your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wumen-huikai/spring-comes-with-flowers-autumn-with-the-moon-summer-with-the-breeze/) [Wumen Huikai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wumen-huikai/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [To be idle requires a strong sense of personal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/to-be-idle-requires-a-strong-sense-of-personal-identity/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [An idle life and a holy heart is a contradiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/an-idle-life-and-a-holy-heart-is-a-contradiction/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) Browse all 727 Idle quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Brisbane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-power-for-good-in-the-time-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Idle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-power-for-good-in-the-time-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/arthur-brisbane-27401_idle_regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-powe_75916.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste…” — Arthur Brisbane", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Brisbane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Regret for time wasted can become...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-power-for-good-in-the-time-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-power-for-good-in-the-time-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```