--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things take the time they take. don't…" description: "\"Things take the time they take. don't worry. How many roads did St. Augustine follow before he became St. Augustine?\" — Mary Oliver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/mary-oliver-570_augustine_things-take-the-time-they-take-don-t-wor_1215197.jpg" --- # Things take the time they take. don't worry. How many… ![“Things take the time they take. don't worry. How many roads did St. Augustine follow before he became St. Augustine?” quote by Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/mary-oliver-570_augustine_things-take-the-time-they-take-don-t-wor_1215197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/mary-oliver-570_augustine_things-take-the-time-they-take-don-t-wor_1215197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/mary-oliver-570_augustine_things-take-the-time-they-take-don-t-wor_1215197.jpg) > “Things take the time they take. don't worry. How many roads did St. Augustine follow before he became St. Augustine?” [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience is essential; the path to becoming a great figure is gradual and unhurried. **In simple terms:** Time unfolds naturally; don’t rush. Key Takeaway Trust the timing of growth. Themes patience time growth spirituality history Mood peaceful reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - career planning - spiritual practice - historical study - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy biography mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does patience teach you? - How can you honor each stage of progress? A Different Perspective Rushing can cause burnout and missed lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine/) [Augustine Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine-follow-3700656/) [Follow St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-st-3700657/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Roads Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roads-did-3700658/) [St Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/st-augustine/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Holy Christendom has, in my judgment, no better teacher after the apostles than St. Augustine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/holy-christendom-has-in-my-judgment-no-better-teacher-after-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“He who knows how to pray well, knows how to live well. —St. Augustine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-n-calvillo/he-who-knows-how-to-pray-well-knows-how-to-live-well-st-augustine/) [David N. 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I don't doubt it, and today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josemaria-escriva/you-told-me-father-that-after-my-past-life-it-is-still-possible-to/) [Josemaria Escriva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josemaria-escriva/) > [Here was St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. How to build a hotel to meet the requirements of nineteenth century America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flagler/here-was-st-augustine-the-oldest-city-in-the-united-states-how-to/) [Henry Flagler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flagler/) > [“The World is a book and those who do not travel read only a page' St. Augustine of Hippo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-joseph/the-world-is-a-book-and-those-who-do-not-travel-read-only-a-page-st/) [Monica Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-joseph/) > [“as St Augustine put it, was man a mere child playing in the rock pools of a beach ignoring the great ocean whispering beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-doherty/as-st-augustine-put-it-was-man-a-mere-child-playing-in-the-rock-pools/) [Paul Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-doherty/) > [“St. Augustine is reported to have said, “God, this is the only problem for me: whatsoever I think is worth doing I never do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/st-augustine-is-reported-to-have-said-god-this-is-the-only-problem/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“St. Augustine wrote something once, something I think about often,” he said. “ ‘God triumphs on the ruins of our plans.’ And maybe that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/st-augustine-wrote-something-once-something-i-think-about-often-he/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“I knew there were many side-roads but did not want one that would lead to nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-knew-there-were-many-side-roads-but-did-not-want-one-that-would/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Nothing can express the aim and meaning of our work better than the profound words of St. Augustine - 'Beauty is the splendor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/nothing-can-express-the-aim-and-meaning-of-our-work-better-than-the/) [Ludwig Mies van der Rohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/) > [“ Solvitur ambulando , St. Augustine said. It is solved by walking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kelly/solvitur-ambulando-st-augustine-said-it-is-solved-by-walking/) [Laura Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kelly/) > [“Hence we should all make St. Augustine's prayer our own: "Lord, here cut, here burn and spare me not, but spare me in eternity!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-maria-de-liguori/hence-we-should-all-make-st-augustine-s-prayer-our-own-lord-here-cut/) [Alphonsus Maria de Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-maria-de-liguori/) > [“When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrow or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-catholic-church/when-i-am-completely-united-to-you-there-will-be-no-more-sorrow-or/) [The Catholic Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-catholic-church/) ## More by Mary Oliver > [Belief isn't always easy. But this much I have learned--- if not enough else--- to live with my eyes open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/belief-isn-t-always-easy-but-this-much-i-have-learned-if-not-enough/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [In this universe we are given two gifts: the ability to love and the ability to question. Which are, at the same time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/in-this-universe-we-are-given-two-gifts-the-ability-to-love-and-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Poetry is one of the original arts, and it began, as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/poetry-is-one-of-the-original-arts-and-it-began-as-did-all-the-fine/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The dream of my life is to lie down by a slow river and stare at the light in the trees - to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-dream-of-my-life-is-to-lie-down-by-a-slow-river-and-stare-at-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/tell-me-what-is-it-you-plan-to-do-with-your-one-wild-and-precious-life/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“All important ideas must include the trees, the mountains, and the rivers. • To understand many things you must reach out of your own condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/all-important-ideas-must-include-the-trees-the-mountains-and-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Sometimes I think, were I just a little rougher made, I would go altogether to the woods—to my work entirely, and solitude, a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sometimes-i-think-were-i-just-a-little-rougher-made-i-would-go/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“First Snow The snow began here this morning and all day continued, its white rhetoric everywhere calling us back to why, how, whence such beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/first-snow-the-snow-began-here-this-morning-and-all-day-continued-its/) [mary oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“What can I say that I have not said before? So I’ll say it again. The leaf has a song in it. Stone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/what-can-i-say-that-i-have-not-said-before-so-i-ll-say-it-again-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The sea is the most beautiful face in our universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-sea-is-the-most-beautiful-face-in-our-universe/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [There is nothing better than work. Work is also play; children know that. Children play earnestly as if it were work. But people grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/there-is-nothing-better-than-work-work-is-also-play-children-know/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“What will you do with your one precious, wild life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/what-will-you-do-with-your-one-precious-wild-life/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/poetry-is-a-life-cherishing-force-for-poems-are-not-words-after-all/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“I stood like Adam in his lonely garden On that first morning, shaken out of sleep, Rubbing his eyes, listening, parting the leaves, Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-stood-like-adam-in-his-lonely-garden-on-that-first-morning-shaken/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/we-all-have-a-hungry-heart-and-one-of-the-things-we-hunger-for-is/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) [Explore all 470 Mary Oliver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## More Augustine quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. 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But the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stove/people-are-mostly-sane-enough-of-course-in-the-affairs-of-common-life/) [David Stove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stove/) > [“I have become an enigma to myself. So said Saint Augustine. And herein lies my sickness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-have-become-an-enigma-to-myself-so-said-saint-augustine-and-herein/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Augustine says that we may, out of our dead sins, make stepping stones to rise to the heights of perfection. What did he mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stalker/augustine-says-that-we-may-out-of-our-dead-sins-make-stepping-stones/) [James Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stalker/) > [St. Augustine teaches us that there is in each man a Serpent, an Eve, and an Adam. 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