--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our priorities are most visible in how we…" description: "\"Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time. Someone has said, “Three things never come back—the spent arrow, the spoken word, and the lost ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/dallin-h-oaks-2042_arrows_our-priorities-are-most-visible-in-how-w_1538131.jpg" --- # Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time… ![“Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time. Someone has said, “Three things never come back—the spent arrow, the spoken word, and the lost opportunity.” We cannot recycle or save the time allotted to us each day. With time, we have only one opportunity for choice, and then it is gone…” quote by Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/dallin-h-oaks-2042_arrows_our-priorities-are-most-visible-in-how-w_1538131.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/dallin-h-oaks-2042_arrows_our-priorities-are-most-visible-in-how-w_1538131.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/dallin-h-oaks-2042_arrows_our-priorities-are-most-visible-in-how-w_1538131.jpg) > “Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time. Someone has said, “Three things never come back—the spent arrow, the spoken word, and the lost opportunity.” We cannot recycle or save the time allotted to us each day. With time, we have only one opportunity for choice, and then it is gone forever.” [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our actions reveal what truly matters because time cannot be reclaimed once spent. **In simple terms:** Time shows our priorities; once gone, it cannot return. Key Takeaway Choose actions that reflect your deepest values. Themes time management priorities choice impermanence Mood reflective serious Type advice motivational When to use this quote - daily planning - career decisions - personal relationships - goal setting Key Concepts Opportunity cost scarcity intentional living Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which tasks deserve your time? - What habits help you protect valuable moments? A Different Perspective People may rationalize wasted time, but the loss remains irreversible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrows/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each-day/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Gone forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone-forever/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-opportunity/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Priorities Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities-visible-5722844/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Spoken word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoken-word/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-opportunity-874721/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-time/) ## Related quotes > [Three things that never come back: the spent arrow; the spoken word; the lost opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/three-things-that-never-come-back-the-spent-arrow-the-spoken-word-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't use time and words carelessly - neither can be retrieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/don-t-use-time-and-words-carelessly-neither-can-be-retrieved/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“Consider how we use our time. Not everything is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. SOme things are better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/consider-how-we-use-our-time-not-everything-is-worth-the-portion-of/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Relationship are once time opportunity so never left them for any reason until you have no more option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwivid/relationship-are-once-time-opportunity-so-never-left-them-for-any/) [Dwivid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwivid/) > [Any time I see an opportunity to get ahead, I take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/any-time-i-see-an-opportunity-to-get-ahead-i-take-it/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [For the resolute and determined, there is time and opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/for-the-resolute-and-determined-there-is-time-and-opportunity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Time is that wherein there is opportunity, and opportunity is that wherein there is no great time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/time-is-that-wherein-there-is-opportunity-and-opportunity-is-that/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [“You’re exactly where you need to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. Every opportunity you’ve passed on has brought you to this moment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ushkowitz/you-re-exactly-where-you-need-to-be-don-t-think-you-ve-lost-time/) [Jenna Ushkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ushkowitz/) > [Each new day present time and opportunity. It's what you do with these that defines who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-new-day-present-time-and-opportunity-it-s-what-you-do-with-these/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Waiting for perfect time and opportunity. It comes never - start now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/waiting-for-perfect-time-and-opportunity-it-comes-never-start-now/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [I already have a job and being the CEO of Nvidia is a great privilege. It is once in a life time opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/i-already-have-a-job-and-being-the-ceo-of-nvidia-is-a-great-privilege/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [“Time is an opportunity with every providence of God to reveal His Will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-nyarangi-akoya/time-is-an-opportunity-with-every-providence-of-god-to-reveal-his-will/) [JOEL NYARANGI AKOYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-nyarangi-akoya/) > [The king shall lose no time when the opportunity waited for arrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-king-shall-lose-no-time-when-the-opportunity-waited-for-arrives/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [“We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/we-are-now-faced-with-the-fact-my-friends-that-tomorrow-is-today-we/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The old politician maintain the chair for a lot of decades. So if we will lose the referendum, this is not a problem for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-renzi/the-old-politician-maintain-the-chair-for-a-lot-of-decades-so-if-we/) [Matteo Renzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-renzi/) ## More by Dallin H. Oaks > [Intellectual methods-study and reason-are essential to our progress toward eternal life, but they are not sufficient. They can prepare the way. They can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/intellectual-methods-study-and-reason-are-essential-to-our-progress/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Persons who have cleansed themselves of any transgression and who have shown their ability to deal with homosexual inclinations and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/persons-who-have-cleansed-themselves-of-any-transgression-and-who/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“Feeling the Lord magnify me professionally as I sought to serve him solidified my commitment to serve the Lord first. In doing so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/feeling-the-lord-magnify-me-professionally-as-i-sought-to-serve-him/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Priesthood power blesses all of us. Priesthood keys direct women as well as men, and priesthood ordinances and priesthood authority pertain to women as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/priesthood-power-blesses-all-of-us-priesthood-keys-direct-women-as/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Even as we seek to be meek and to avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/even-as-we-seek-to-be-meek-and-to-avoid-contention-we-must-not/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/as-children-of-god-knowing-of-his-great-love-and-his-ultimate/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [The consumption of alcohol is increasing among youth. Targeting young audiences, advertisers portray beer and wine as joyful, socially desirable, and harmless. Producers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-consumption-of-alcohol-is-increasing-among-youth-targeting-young/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-should-seek-after-spiritual-gifts-they-can-lead-us-to-god-they-can/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [All of us should banish hateful communications and practice civility for differences of opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/all-of-us-should-banish-hateful-communications-and-practice-civility/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Well-taught doctrines and principles have a more powerful influence on behavior than rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/well-taught-doctrines-and-principles-have-a-more-powerful-influence/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [When all other hope is gone, our Father in Heaven provides the Lamb of God, and we are saved by his sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/when-all-other-hope-is-gone-our-father-in-heaven-provides-the-lamb-of/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Loving-kindness is required, but a follower of Christ-just like the Master-will be firm in the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/loving-kindness-is-required-but-a-follower-of-christ-just-like-the/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [There are people with physical disabilities that prevent them from having any hope - in some cases any actual hope and in other cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/there-are-people-with-physical-disabilities-that-prevent-them-from/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [If you are trying to live with and maintain ascendancy over same-gender attractions, the best way to do that is to have groups that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/if-you-are-trying-to-live-with-and-maintain-ascendancy-over-same/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Let's not forget that for thousands of years the institution of marriage has been between a man and a woman. Until quite recently, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/let-s-not-forget-that-for-thousands-of-years-the-institution-of/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) [Explore all 190 Dallin H. Oaks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) ## More Arrows quotes > [With the arrival of electric technology, man has extended, or set outside himself, a live model of the central nervous system itself. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/with-the-arrival-of-electric-technology-man-has-extended-or-set/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [I did archery when I was in high school. In our gym class we had two weeks of archery, and I remember taking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-did-archery-when-i-was-in-high-school-in-our-gym-class-we-had-two/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [Game of Thrones. I'm all about it. I watch Arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-mcqueen/game-of-thrones-i-m-all-about-it-i-watch-arrow/) [Steven R. McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-mcqueen/) > [I have shot mine arrow o'er the house And hurt my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-shot-mine-arrow-o-er-the-house-and-hurt-my-brother/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I had a map on my wall that had a circle around Lubbock and then giant arrows pointing toward New York City and Los…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-corbin/i-had-a-map-on-my-wall-that-had-a-circle-around-lubbock-and-then/) [Barry Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-corbin/) > [An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace; but an ill thought leaves a trail like a serpent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/an-arrow-may-fly-through-the-air-and-leave-no-trace-but-an-ill/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and the inability to believe. Our complaints are like arrows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-temple/our-present-time-is-indeed-a-criticizing-and-critical-time-hovering/) [William Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-temple/) > [You took a poison arrow and you aimed it at my heart. It's heavy and it's bitter, and it's tearing me apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/you-took-a-poison-arrow-and-you-aimed-it-at-my-heart-it-s-heavy-and/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [How long the thick dark clouds can prevent the truth from shining? The truth is an arrow that can pass through any shield!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/how-long-the-thick-dark-clouds-can-prevent-the-truth-from-shining-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Vasic said the words on Aden’s tongue. “The Arrows expect mercy from no one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/vasic-said-the-words-on-aden-s-tongue-the-arrows-expect-mercy-from-no/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [Follow your arrow / Wherever it points,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/follow-your-arrow-wherever-it-points/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Philosophy alone makes the mind invincible, and places us out of the reach of fortune, so that all her arrows fall short of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/philosophy-alone-makes-the-mind-invincible-and-places-us-out-of-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Browse all 481 Arrows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrows/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time. Someone has said, “Three things never come back—the spent arrow, the spoken word, and the lost opportunity.” We cannot recycle or save the time allotted to us each day. 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