--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Farming, if you do one thing late, you…" description: "\"Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.\" — Cato the Elder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png" --- # Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all… ![“Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.” quote by Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png) > “Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.” [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting timely tasks in farming leads to cascading delays. **In simple terms:** Delay in farming causes more delays. Key Takeaway Prioritize timely work. Themes agriculture time management productivity Mood pragmatic cautious Type practical instructive When to use this quote - farm scheduling - harvest planning - resource allocation Key Concepts efficiency planning consequences Questions to Reflect On - What tasks can you schedule earlier? - How do you handle unexpected delays? A Different Perspective Unforeseen events can disrupt even good plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agriculture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agriculture/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Farming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farming/) [Farming and farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farming-and-farmers/) [Farms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farms/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Late Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-late/) [Late Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-work-1045519/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Thing Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-late-607804/) ## Related quotes > [Life on a farm is a school of patience; you can't hurry the crops or make an ox in two days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-alain-liogier/life-on-a-farm-is-a-school-of-patience-you-can-t-hurry-the-crops-or/) [Henri Alain Liogier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-alain-liogier/) > [The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-farmer-is-the-only-man-in-our-economy-who-buys-everything-at/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [On a farm the best fertilizer is the master's eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/on-a-farm-the-best-fertilizer-is-the-master-s-eye/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Farm policy, although it's complex, can be explained. What it can't be is believed. No cheating spouse, no teen with a wrecked family car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/farm-policy-although-it-s-complex-can-be-explained-what-it-can-t-be/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Or is there no such thing as 'too late'? Is there only 'late' and is 'late' always better than 'never'? I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-schlink/or-is-there-no-such-thing-as-too-late-is-there-only-late-and-is-late/) [Bernhard Schlink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-schlink/) > [The small landholders are the most precious part of a state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-small-landholders-are-the-most-precious-part-of-a-state/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Farmers are respectable and interesting to me in proportion as they are poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/farmers-are-respectable-and-interesting-to-me-in-proportion-as-they/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Who sows a field, or trains a flower, Or plants at tree, is more than all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/who-sows-a-field-or-trains-a-flower-or-plants-at-tree-is-more-than-all/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Farmers are philosophical. They have learned that it is less wearing to shrug than to beat their breasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-stout/farmers-are-philosophical-they-have-learned-that-it-is-less-wearing/) [Ruth Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stout/) > [Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/whenever-there-are-in-any-country-uncultivated-lands-and-unemployed/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By avarice and selfishness, and a groveling habit, from which none of us is free, of regarding the soil as property, or the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/by-avarice-and-selfishness-and-a-groveling-habit-from-which-none-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-seem-to-be-but-three-ways-for-a-nation-to-acquire-wealth-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I think the initial reason why I became interested in farming is that I wanted to be outdoors. I've always enjoyed being outdoors. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-wilmut/i-think-the-initial-reason-why-i-became-interested-in-farming-is-that/) [Ian Wilmut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-wilmut/) > [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Every single day we sit down to eat, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and at our table we have food that was planted, picked, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/every-single-day-we-sit-down-to-eat-breakfast-lunch-and-dinner-and-at/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) ## More by Cato the Elder > [The worst ruler is one who cannot rule himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/the-worst-ruler-is-one-who-cannot-rule-himself/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/it-is-a-difficult-matter-to-argue-with-the-belly-since-it-has-no-ears/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/an-angry-man-opens-his-mouth-and-shuts-his-eyes/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [When you have decided to purchase a farm, be careful not to buy rashly; do not spare your visits and be not content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/when-you-have-decided-to-purchase-a-farm-be-careful-not-to-buy-rashly/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Grasp the subject, the words will follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/grasp-the-subject-the-words-will-follow/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [An orator is a good man who is skilled in speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/an-orator-is-a-good-man-who-is-skilled-in-speaking/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Patience is the greatest of all virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/patience-is-the-greatest-of-all-virtues/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Furthermore, I think Carthage must be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/furthermore-i-think-carthage-must-be-destroyed/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [When you have arrived at your country house and have saluted your household, you should make the rounds of the farm the same day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/when-you-have-arrived-at-your-country-house-and-have-saluted-your/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [If you are ruled by mind you are a king; if by body, a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/if-you-are-ruled-by-mind-you-are-a-king-if-by-body-a-slave/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Moreover, I consider that Carthage should be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/moreover-i-consider-that-carthage-should-be-destroyed/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [I prefer to do right and get no thanks than to do wrong and receive no punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/i-prefer-to-do-right-and-get-no-thanks-than-to-do-wrong-and-receive/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [From lightest words sometimes the direst quarrel springs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/from-lightest-words-sometimes-the-direst-quarrel-springs/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [“Thieves of private property pass their lives in chains; thieves of public property in riches and luxury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/thieves-of-private-property-pass-their-lives-in-chains-thieves-of/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Tis sometimes the height of wisdom to feign stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/tis-sometimes-the-height-of-wisdom-to-feign-stupidity/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) [Explore all 36 Cato the Elder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) ## More Agriculture quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barber/conventional-agriculture-has-never-succeeded-in-feeding-the-world-and/) [Dan Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barber/) > [I would say my fraternity was nothing but a bunch of farm boys; we weren't really in the whole fraternity scene, but yeah, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-would-say-my-fraternity-was-nothing-but-a-bunch-of-farm-boys-we/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I grew up in Italy, and our country is a country of great agriculture and food produce. It wasn't like I was urban and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/i-grew-up-in-italy-and-our-country-is-a-country-of-great-agriculture/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [Farmers, get out your sense of humor. Congress meets to relieve you again next week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/farmers-get-out-your-sense-of-humor-congress-meets-to-relieve-you/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Sara Scherr and Jeff McNeely have given us a thoughtful, sensible book about a topic of great importance to the world. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-serageldin/sara-scherr-and-jeff-mcneely-have-given-us-a-thoughtful-sensible-book/) [Ismail Serageldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-serageldin/) > [People want development, modern thinking. They want to encourage and support research in agriculture and other fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharad-pawar/people-want-development-modern-thinking-they-want-to-encourage-and/) [Sharad Pawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharad-pawar/) > [Growing corn, which from a biological perspective had always been a process of capturing sunlight to turn into food, has in no small measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/growing-corn-which-from-a-biological-perspective-had-always-been-a/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [When politicians talk of loan waiver, they are accepting that agriculture is not economically viable. They are giving a wrong signal that farming is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-swaminathan/when-politicians-talk-of-loan-waiver-they-are-accepting-that/) [M. S. Swaminathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-swaminathan/) > [Nitrogen-based fertilizers, which came into wide use after World War II, helped prompt the agricultural revolution that has allowed the Earth to feed its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/nitrogen-based-fertilizers-which-came-into-wide-use-after-world-war/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [Agriculture is one economic activity that does not obey the laws of demand and supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/agriculture-is-one-economic-activity-that-does-not-obey-the-laws-of/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [More than a mere alternative strategy, regenerative agriculture represents a fundamental shift in our culture’s relationship to nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/more-than-a-mere-alternative-strategy-regenerative-agriculture/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) [Browse all 889 Agriculture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agriculture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cato the Elder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-will-be-late-in-all-your-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agriculture" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-will-be-late-in-all-your-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/cato-the-elder-17964_agriculture_farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-wil_3232381.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Farming, if you do one thing late, you will be late in all your work.” — Cato the Elder", "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": "Cato the Elder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Farming, if you do one thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-will-be-late-in-all-your-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/farming-if-you-do-one-thing-late-you-will-be-late-in-all-your-work/#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 } } ] } ```