--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gods confound the man who first found…" description: "\"The gods confound the man who first found out How to distinguish hours! Confound him, too, Who in this place set up a sun-dial, To cut and hack my days..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/plautus-1263_cutting_the-gods-confound-the-man-who-first-foun_1388346.jpg" --- # The gods confound the man who first found out How to… ![“The gods confound the man who first found out How to distinguish hours! Confound him, too, Who in this place set up a sun-dial, To cut and hack my days so wretchedly Into small portions.” quote by Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/plautus-1263_cutting_the-gods-confound-the-man-who-first-foun_1388346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/plautus-1263_cutting_the-gods-confound-the-man-who-first-foun_1388346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/plautus-1263_cutting_the-gods-confound-the-man-who-first-foun_1388346.jpg) > “The gods confound the man who first found out How to distinguish hours! Confound him, too, Who in this place set up a sun-dial, To cut and hack my days so wretchedly Into small portions.” [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to measure time precisely can lead to anxiety and a fragmented sense of life. **In simple terms:** Over‑measuring time fragments life. Key Takeaway Embrace the flow of time. Themes time control anxiety philosophy Mood reflective calm Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - daily planning - productivity - stress management - creative work Key Concepts temporal perception existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does strict scheduling affect your wellbeing? - Can you allow moments without measurement? A Different Perspective Obsessing over time can increase stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confound Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confound-man-1259720/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Days Wretchedly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-wretchedly-4830090/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Gods Confound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-confound-4663821/) [Hacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hacks/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Confound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-confound-4830089/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Portions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portions/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Sun Dial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun-dial-2350192/) ## Related quotes > [For the most part we stupidly confound one man with another. The dull distinguish only races or nations, or at most classes, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-the-most-part-we-stupidly-confound-one-man-with-another-the-dull/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Timon will to the woods, where he shall find Th' unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. The gods confound - hear me, you good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/timon-will-to-the-woods-where-he-shall-find-th-unkindest-beast-more/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“You are the sun, I am the sun-dial. Unless you shine on me all time stands still.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ondra-lysohorsky/you-are-the-sun-i-am-the-sun-dial-unless-you-shine-on-me-all-time/) [Ondra Lysohorsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ondra-lysohorsky/) > [What's a Sun-Dial in the shade?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/what-s-a-sun-dial-in-the-shade/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Hacking is very interesting. Once they hack, if you don't catch them in the act, you're not going to catch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hacking-is-very-interesting-once-they-hack-if-you-don-t-catch-them-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There are writers who will do whatever they are told regardless of the circumstances - these are called 'hacks.' 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Do not discuss your project with your relatives, neighbor, grandmother, friends’ friends, pastor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmytro-zaporozhtsev/choose-and-create-a-circle-of-proper-advisors-around-you-do-not/) [Dmytro Zaporozhtsev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmytro-zaporozhtsev/) > [“Wireless Hacks, 2nd Edition Table of Contents Foreword”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wireless-hacks-2nd-edition-table-of-contents-foreword/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you operate in an overbuilt metropolis, you have to hack your way with a meat ax,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moses/when-you-operate-in-an-overbuilt-metropolis-you-have-to-hack-your-way/) [Robert Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moses/) ## More by Plautus > [Remind a man of what he remembers, and you will make him forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/remind-a-man-of-what-he-remembers-and-you-will-make-him-forget-it/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [I suspect that hunger was my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/i-suspect-that-hunger-was-my-mother/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [He is happy in his wisdom who has learned at another's expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/he-is-happy-in-his-wisdom-who-has-learned-at-another-s-expense/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [He who dies for virtue does not perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/he-who-dies-for-virtue-does-not-perish/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [The man who would be fully employed should procure a ship or a woman, for no two things produce more trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/the-man-who-would-be-fully-employed-should-procure-a-ship-or-a-woman/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [If you speak insults you will hear them also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/if-you-speak-insults-you-will-hear-them-also/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [ No man has perpetual good fortune. \[Lat., Nulli est homini perpetuum bonum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/no-man-has-perpetual-good-fortune-lat-nulli-est-homini-perpetuum-bonum/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [What you lend is lost; when you ask for it back, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/what-you-lend-is-lost-when-you-ask-for-it-back-you-may-find-a-friend/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Things unhoped for happen oftener than things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/things-unhoped-for-happen-oftener-than-things-we-desire/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“Ut saepe summa ingenia in occulto latent (How often the greatest talents are shrouded in obscurity)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/ut-saepe-summa-ingenia-in-occulto-latent-how-often-the-greatest/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [ You little know what a ticklish thing it is to go to law. \[Lat., Nescis tu quam meticulosa res sit ire ad judicem.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/you-little-know-what-a-ticklish-thing-it-is-to-go-to-law-lat-nescis/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Modesty should accompany youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/modesty-should-accompany-youth/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [It is wisdom to think upon anything before we execute it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/it-is-wisdom-to-think-upon-anything-before-we-execute-it/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [A woman smells well when she smells of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/a-woman-smells-well-when-she-smells-of-nothing/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) [Explore all 259 Plautus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) ## More Cutting quotes > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. 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It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. 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