--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time is the great art of man." description: "\"Time is the great art of man.\" — Napoleon Bonaparte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg" --- # Time is the great art of man. ![“Time is the great art of man.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg) > “Time is the great art of man.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is humanity's greatest artistic achievement, shaping civilization. **In simple terms:** Time shapes humanity. Key Takeaway Respect time. Themes history art humanity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - planning - project management - historical analysis Key Concepts temporal perception creative expression Questions to Reflect On - How does you view time? - What art can you create with time? A Different Perspective Time can be wasted or misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Great art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-art/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Time is still the great mystery to us. It is no more than a concept; we don't know if it even exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/time-is-still-the-great-mystery-to-us-it-is-no-more-than-a-concept-we/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [A great artist transforms our world, removes scales from our eyes, plugs from our ears, gloves from our fingertips, teaches us to perceive reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/a-great-artist-transforms-our-world-removes-scales-from-our-eyes/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [The great art of governing consists in not letting men grow old in their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-great-art-of-governing-consists-in-not-letting-men-grow-old-in/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In war there is but one favorable moment; the great art is to seize it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-war-there-is-but-one-favorable-moment-the-great-art-is-to-seize-it/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Time is a great deadener; people forget, get bored, grow old, go away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/time-is-a-great-deadener-people-forget-get-bored-grow-old-go-away/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Its a right time to do a great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/its-a-right-time-to-do-a-great-things/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [As long as I can still be on my own and do my own thing and be working full time, it's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-mcpartland/as-long-as-i-can-still-be-on-my-own-and-do-my-own-thing-and-be/) [Marian McPartland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-mcpartland/) > [“This is your time of great enthusiasm, you can accomplish so much in this life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/this-is-your-time-of-great-enthusiasm-you-can-accomplish-so-much-in/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [“Begin to invest your time into research and studies about how you could impact your world positively because only through the proper conversion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/begin-to-invest-your-time-into-research-and-studies-about-how-you/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [No shame in losing to an all-time great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-yarde/no-shame-in-losing-to-an-all-time-great/) [Anthony Yarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-yarde/) > [There is a time for some things, and a time for all things; a time for great things, and a time for small things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-time-for-some-things-and-a-time-for-all-things-a-time-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you raise a child, there's no time, you can't be a great parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/if-you-raise-a-child-there-s-no-time-you-can-t-be-a-great-parent/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [I've had my family around me all the time, and that's been a great help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-rodwell/i-ve-had-my-family-around-me-all-the-time-and-that-s-been-a-great-help/) [Jack Rodwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-rodwell/) > [“You must know what you do with your time if you must become great in this life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-know-what-you-do-with-your-time-if-you-must-become-great-in/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time is the great art of man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/time-is-the-great-art-of-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/time-is-the-great-art-of-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_art_time-is-the-great-art-of-man-1383338_1383338.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Time is the great art of man.” — Napoleon Bonaparte", "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": "Napoleon Bonaparte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Time is the great art of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/time-is-the-great-art-of-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/time-is-the-great-art-of-man/#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 } } ] } ```