---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If time be of all things the most…"
description: "\"If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, “the greatest prodigality'; since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'L..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/benjamin-franklin-65_all-things_if-time-be-of-all-things-the-most-precio_2841533.jpg"
---

#  If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time…

![“If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, “the greatest prodigality'; since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again'; and 'What we call time enough always proves little enough'. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose…” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/benjamin-franklin-65_all-things_if-time-be-of-all-things-the-most-precio_2841533.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/benjamin-franklin-65_all-things_if-time-be-of-all-things-the-most-precio_2841533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/benjamin-franklin-65_all-things_if-time-be-of-all-things-the-most-precio_2841533.jpg)

> “If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, “the greatest prodigality'; since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again'; and 'What we call time enough always proves little enough'. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.”

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Time is the most valuable resource; squandering it is the greatest waste, so we must act purposefully and diligently.

**In simple terms:** Time is precious; waste it.

Key Takeaway

Act purposefully and avoid waste.

Themes

time management productivity diligence

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- work projects
- personal goals
- learning
- creative pursuits

Key Concepts

Opportunity cost focus intentionality

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you prioritize tasks daily?
- What habits help you protect your time?

A Different Perspective

Even with diligence, unexpected events can still consume time.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [All time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-time/) [Diligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diligence/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Greatest Prodigality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-prodigality-3728318/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-time/) [Perplexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perplexity/) [Poor richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-richard/) [Precious Wasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-wasting-3728319/) [Prodigality Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigality-tells-3728320/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/)

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