--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time is eternity begun." description: "\"Time is eternity begun.\" — James Montgomery" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png" --- # Time is eternity begun. ![“Time is eternity begun.” quote by James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png) > “Time is eternity begun.” [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time represents the start of endless existence, linking present moments to infinite continuity. **In simple terms:** Time begins eternity. Key Takeaway Embrace each moment as part of the infinite. Themes time eternity philosophy existence Mood contemplative inspired Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - daily mindfulness - long‑term planning - legacy building - spiritual practice Key Concepts continuity temporal perception metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing eternity affect your daily choices? - What actions honor both present and infinite? A Different Perspective Focusing only on eternity can diminish present‑day urgency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begun/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Eternity Begun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity-begun-4349155/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-eternity/) ## Related quotes > [When Eternity is considered to be the Beginning, then our speaking of the Beginning of the Begun is nothing but our speaking of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/when-eternity-is-considered-to-be-the-beginning-then-our-speaking-of/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Without art we live under the illusion that there is only time, and not eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/without-art-we-live-under-the-illusion-that-there-is-only-time-and/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [We must often draw the comparison between time and eternity. This is the remedy of all our troubles. How small will the present moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ann-seton/we-must-often-draw-the-comparison-between-time-and-eternity-this-is/) [Elizabeth Ann Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ann-seton/) > [ You know, we'll hardly get our feet out of time \[and\] into eternity that we'll bow our heads in shame and humiliation. We'll gaze… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-know-we-ll-hardly-get-our-feet-out-of-time-and-into-eternity-that/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-cross-is-the-central-event-in-time-and-eternity-and-the-answer-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The present moment is the only aperture through which the soul can pass out of time into eternity, through which grace can pass out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-present-moment-is-the-only-aperture-through-which-the-soul-can/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The family is the most important unit in time and in eternity and, as such, transcends every other interest in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/the-family-is-the-most-important-unit-in-time-and-in-eternity-and-as/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [“Am I then to believe that the same God Who expends millions of years in slowly fitting this earth for man's habitation, will only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-allin/am-i-then-to-believe-that-the-same-god-who-expends-millions-of-years/) [Thomas Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-allin/) > [Eternity: a moment standing still for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/eternity-a-moment-standing-still-for-ever/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [“Time is to slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/time-is-to-slow-for-those-who-wait-too-swift-for-those-who-fear-too/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/for-death-is-no-more-than-a-turning-of-us-over-from-time-to-eternity/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [the bells of glory that announced to the world the good news that the uncountable time of eternity had come to an end](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/the-bells-of-glory-that-announced-to-the-world-the-good-news-that-the/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/hath-triumphed-over-time-which-besides-it-nothing-but-eternity-hath/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [“The distance between God and time is eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-distance-between-god-and-time-is-eternity/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by James Montgomery > [Two roses on one slender spray In sweet communion grew, Together hailed the morning ray And drank the evening dew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/two-roses-on-one-slender-spray-in-sweet-communion-grew-together/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [Nature's prime favourites were the Pelicans; High-fed, long-lived, and sociable and free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/nature-s-prime-favourites-were-the-pelicans-high-fed-long-lived-and/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [When evening closes Nature's eye, The glow-worm lights her little spark To captivate her favorite fly And tempt the rover through the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/when-evening-closes-nature-s-eye-the-glow-worm-lights-her-little/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [A mother's love — how sweet the name! What is a mother's love? — A noble, pure and tender flame, Enkindled from above, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/a-mother-s-love-how-sweet-the-name-what-is-a-mother-s-love-a-noble/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [The tulip's petals shine in dew, All beautiful, but none alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/the-tulip-s-petals-shine-in-dew-all-beautiful-but-none-alike/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [There is a calm for those who weep, A rest for weary pilgrims found, They softly lie and sweetly sleep Low in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/there-is-a-calm-for-those-who-weep-a-rest-for-weary-pilgrims-found/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [Eternity: a moment standing still for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/eternity-a-moment-standing-still-for-ever/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [The Dead are like the stars by day; Withdrawn from mortal eye, But not extinct, they hold their way In glory through the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/the-dead-are-like-the-stars-by-day-withdrawn-from-mortal-eye-but-not/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [Joys too exquisite to last, And yet more exquisite when past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/joys-too-exquisite-to-last-and-yet-more-exquisite-when-past/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [“Calvary's mournful mountain climb; there adoring at His feet, mark that miracle of time ─ God's own sacrifice complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/calvary-s-mournful-mountain-climb-there-adoring-at-his-feet-mark-that/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [To-morrow — oh, 'twill never be, If we should live a thousand years! Our time is all to-day, to-day, The same, though changed; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/to-morrow-oh-twill-never-be-if-we-should-live-a-thousand-years-our/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [Beyond this vale of tears there is a life above. unmeasured by the flight of years; and all that life is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/beyond-this-vale-of-tears-there-is-a-life-above-unmeasured-by-the/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [Hope against hope, and ask till ye receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/hope-against-hope-and-ask-till-ye-receive/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [“As I climb'd the mountain's side, Where the Lake and Valley meet, All my country's power and pride Lay in ruins at my feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/as-i-climb-d-the-mountain-s-side-where-the-lake-and-valley-meet-all/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) > [When the good man yields his breath (For the good man never dies).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/when-the-good-man-yields-his-breath-for-the-good-man-never-dies/) [James Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) [Explore all 39 James Montgomery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/) ## More Begun quotes > [“My life has begun to feel like an epilogue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-life-has-begun-to-feel-like-an-epilogue/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [“Begin the fun, the fun's begun. One for all, and all for one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-chester/begin-the-fun-the-fun-s-begun-one-for-all-and-all-for-one/) [Laura Chester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-chester/) > [I have always believed that if you need to take your clothes off to get your man, you've begun to lose the battle. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bipasha-basu/i-have-always-believed-that-if-you-need-to-take-your-clothes-off-to/) [Bipasha Basu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bipasha-basu/) > [I've been writing songs all along, and since moving to Nashville in the late-'80s, I'd begun writing something like 15-20 songs a year, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-leadon/i-ve-been-writing-songs-all-along-and-since-moving-to-nashville-in/) [Bernie Leadon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-leadon/) > [I had begun to write novels because of a fierce, self-serving impulse in my own heart. I had not considered the potential in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-had-begun-to-write-novels-because-of-a-fierce-self-serving-impulse/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We were starting to get old before our time. I'm 10 years older than Kingy, but we'd both begun to shuffle, the knees were sore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-myers/we-were-starting-to-get-old-before-our-time-i-m-10-years-older-than/) [Dave Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-myers/) > [“There's no way to slow it down now it has begun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-foxlee/there-s-no-way-to-slow-it-down-now-it-has-begun/) [Karen Foxlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-foxlee/) > [I believe BMX has shaped me into who I am today, so if this journey never would have begun, then who knows the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-robinson/i-believe-bmx-has-shaped-me-into-who-i-am-today-so-if-this-journey/) [Donny Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-robinson/) > [I've gotten into two fights since I've begun studying the martial arts, and each time, I was worried I'd kill the guy. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-ve-gotten-into-two-fights-since-i-ve-begun-studying-the-martial/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [I'm a vegetarian, but now, on my doctor's orders, I have begun eating egg white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-m-a-vegetarian-but-now-on-my-doctor-s-orders-i-have-begun-eating/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [Everything has already begun before, the first line of the first page of every novel refers to something that has already happened outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/everything-has-already-begun-before-the-first-line-of-the-first-page/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [I've begun to think like a Jew, to feel like a Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-ve-begun-to-think-like-a-jew-to-feel-like-a-jew/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Once a job it has begun, do not stop until it's done. Whether it is big or small, do it well or not all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/once-a-job-it-has-begun-do-not-stop-until-it-s-done-whether-it-is-big/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [The Founders were anything but demigods to themselves and their contemporaries, who recognized full well that the experiment in self-government had only begun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-founders-were-anything-but-demigods-to-themselves-and-their/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) [Browse all 190 Begun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begun/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time is eternity begun.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Montgomery" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/time-is-eternity-begun/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Begun" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/time-is-eternity-begun/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/james-montgomery-16693_begun_time-is-eternity-begun-3125076_3125076.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Time is eternity begun.” — James Montgomery", "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": "James Montgomery", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montgomery/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Time is eternity begun.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/time-is-eternity-begun/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montgomery/time-is-eternity-begun/#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 } } ] } ```