--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time flies, and what is past is done." description: "\"Time flies, and what is past is done.\" — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg" --- # Time flies, and what is past is done. ![“Time flies, and what is past is done.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg) > “Time flies, and what is past is done.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time moves forward, making past events unchangeable; we must accept that what has happened is finished. **In simple terms:** The past cannot be altered. Key Takeaway Focus on the present. Themes time impermanence acceptance Mood reflective calm philosophical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - daily planning - grieving loss - learning from history Key Concepts ephemerality historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you let go of regrets? - What can you learn from past experiences? A Different Perspective Dwelling on the past can cause stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“horas volat (time flies)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantijn-huygens/horas-volat-time-flies/) Constantijn Huygens > [The balloon seems to stand still in the air while the earth flies past underneath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-santos-dumont/the-balloon-seems-to-stand-still-in-the-air-while-the-earth-flies/) [Alberto Santos-Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-santos-dumont/) > [Fate is like a train. When it flies past, you can choose if you want to get on it or not, to say no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/fate-is-like-a-train-when-it-flies-past-you-can-choose-if-you-want-to/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [Time flies when you’re being stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/time-flies-when-you-re-being-stupid/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [“Time flies with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/time-flies-with-you/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Time flies like an arrow - but fruit flies like a banana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/time-flies-like-an-arrow-but-fruit-flies-like-a-banana/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Time flies so quick. I remember my second year in business when Bullocks Wilshire did a whole window of my white dresses. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-shoji/time-flies-so-quick-i-remember-my-second-year-in-business-when/) [Tadashi Shoji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-shoji/) > [Time flies when you're masturbating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-flies-when-you-re-masturbating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tempus fugit (time flies).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/tempus-fugit-time-flies/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time flies and you never know what's gonna happen tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aryna-sabalenka/time-flies-and-you-never-know-what-s-gonna-happen-tomorrow/) [Aryna Sabalenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aryna-sabalenka/) > [Time flies, but you are the pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-flies-but-you-are-the-pilot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Time, still as he flies, adds increase to her truth, and gives to her mind what he steals from her youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-moore/time-still-as-he-flies-adds-increase-to-her-truth-and-gives-to-her/) Edward Moore > [Time flies never to be recalled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/time-flies-never-to-be-recalled/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [It's pretty scary to know how quickly time flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/it-s-pretty-scary-to-know-how-quickly-time-flies/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [Time flies when you are anxious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/time-flies-when-you-are-anxious/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) Levi Keely > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time flies, and what is past is done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clock" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_done_time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done-1935_1935862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Time flies, and what is past is done.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "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": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Time flies, and what is past...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/time-flies-and-what-is-past-is-done/#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 } } ] } ```