--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best time to plant a tree was 25…" description: "\"The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.\" — Eliud Kipchoge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/eliud-kipchoge-13861_best_the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-25-yea_89658.jpg" --- # The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The… ![“The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.” quote by Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/eliud-kipchoge-13861_best_the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-25-yea_89658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/eliud-kipchoge-13861_best_the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-25-yea_89658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/eliud-kipchoge-13861_best_the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-25-yea_89658.jpg) > “The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.” [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Procrastination delays progress; the optimal moment to start is always now, regardless of past missed opportunities. **In simple terms:** Start today, not tomorrow. Key Takeaway Now is the best time. Themes timing action procrastination Mood encouraging Type inspirational When to use this quote - project planning - personal goals Key Concepts opportunity cost Practical Applications - productivity coaching Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take right now? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-time/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Plant a tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant-a-tree/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [“the best time to plant a tree was forty years ago. The second best time is today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-forty-years-ago-the-second-best/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [The est time to plant a tree was 20 years ago…the second best time is now..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-est-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-20-years-ago-the-second-best-time-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“wonderful bit of Chinese wisdom that asks, “When is the best time to plant a tree?”  The answer is “20 years ago, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-boynton/wonderful-bit-of-chinese-wisdom-that-asks-when-is-the-best-time-to/) Paul S. Boynton > [“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-r-covey/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-is-twenty-years-ago-the-second-best/) [Stephen M.R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-r-covey/) > [“… the best time to plant a tree is always twenty years ago. If, for some reason, you did not plant it then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-acosta/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-is-always-twenty-years-ago-if-for-some/) Carlos Acosta > [If I thought I was going to die tomorrow, I should nevertheless plant a tree today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-girard/if-i-thought-i-was-going-to-die-tomorrow-i-should-nevertheless-plant/) Stephen Girard > [Plant a memory, plant a tree, do it today for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukihiro-matsumoto/plant-a-memory-plant-a-tree-do-it-today-for-tomorrow/) [Yukihiro Matsumoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukihiro-matsumoto/) > [Everybody should plant a tree on any happy occasion or birthday and celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayaji-shinde/everybody-should-plant-a-tree-on-any-happy-occasion-or-birthday-and/) [Sayaji Shinde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayaji-shinde/) > [What do we plant when we plant a tree? A thousand things that we daily see, We plant the spire that out-towers the crag,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-abbey/what-do-we-plant-when-we-plant-a-tree-a-thousand-things-that-we-daily/) [Henry Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-abbey/) > [And remember, even when you can't sing, you can always plant a tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/and-remember-even-when-you-can-t-sing-you-can-always-plant-a-tree/) [David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/) > [If I knew that the world ends tomorrow, I, even today, plant a tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-i-knew-that-the-world-ends-tomorrow-i-even-today-plant-a-tree/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [On the last day of the world I would want to plant a tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/on-the-last-day-of-the-world-i-would-want-to-plant-a-tree/) [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [“Place" On the last day of the world I would want to plant a tree what for not the fruit the tree that bears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin-2/place-on-the-last-day-of-the-world-i-would-want-to-plant-a-tree-what/) [W.S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin-2/) > [That's the way I do things when I want to celebrate, I always plant a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/that-s-the-way-i-do-things-when-i-want-to-celebrate-i-always-plant-a/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Girls, do not scrub and cook and scour until you have no time left to plant a tree, or vine or flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/girls-do-not-scrub-and-cook-and-scour-until-you-have-no-time-left-to/) [Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/) ## More by Eliud Kipchoge > [I'm confident to say that if you want to grow in a profession, consistency is the key... I'm strict about my work goals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-m-confident-to-say-that-if-you-want-to-grow-in-a-profession/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [If you have that belief - pure belief in your heart - that you want to be successful then you can talk to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/if-you-have-that-belief-pure-belief-in-your-heart-that-you-want-to-be/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I always tell people that this is a really simple deal: Work hard. If you work hard, follow what's required and set your priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-always-tell-people-that-this-is-a-really-simple-deal-work-hard-if/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [My mind is always free. My mind is flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/my-mind-is-always-free-my-mind-is-flexible/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I got into running when I was being mentored by my coach. I tried it and developed a passion for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-got-into-running-when-i-was-being-mentored-by-my-coach-i-tried-it/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I have only ever done athletics. I was only average at school and I have never done any other sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-have-only-ever-done-athletics-i-was-only-average-at-school-and-i/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [My first competition outside Kenya was at the 2002 world cross country championships in Dublin, Ireland. I finished fifth in the junior race that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/my-first-competition-outside-kenya-was-at-the-2002-world-cross/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I want to run with a relaxed mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-want-to-run-with-a-relaxed-mind/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [If you train with fast athletes, it keeps you pushing. I know that good preparation is more important than everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/if-you-train-with-fast-athletes-it-keeps-you-pushing-i-know-that-good/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [Vienna is a city where they love sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/vienna-is-a-city-where-they-love-sports/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I always say: a run in the morning is like eating a fruit a day - it chases he doctor away. It is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-always-say-a-run-in-the-morning-is-like-eating-a-fruit-a-day-it/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I think 1:59 is something a human being can run. Or 1:58. Who knows?! If someone trains very well and thinks in a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-think-1-59-is-something-a-human-being-can-run-or-1-58-who-knows-if/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [No human is limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/no-human-is-limited/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I want to stay for a long time and leave a mark so the young generation can aspire to be at the top like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-want-to-stay-for-a-long-time-and-leave-a-mark-so-the-young/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [If you want to break through, your mind should be able to control your body. Your mind should be a part of your fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/if-you-want-to-break-through-your-mind-should-be-able-to-control-your/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) [Explore all 49 Eliud Kipchoge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... 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