Carpe diem Quote by Roman Payne
““The hour of spring was dark at last, sensuous memories of sunlight past, I stood alone in garden bowers and asked the value of my hours. Time was spent or time was tossed, Life was loved and life was lost. I kissed the flesh of tender girls, I heard the songs of vernal birds. I gazed upon the blushing light, aware of day before the night. So let me ask and hear a thought: Did I live the spring I’d sought? It's true in joy, I walked along, took part in dance, and sang the song. and never tried to bind an hour to my borrowed garden bower; nor did I once entreat a day to slumber at my feet. Yet days aren't lulled by lyric song, like morning birds they pass along, o'er crests of trees, to none belong; o'er crests of trees of drying dew, their larking flight, my hands, eschew Thus I’ll say it once and true... From all that I saw, and everywhere I wandered, I learned that time cannot be spent, It only can be squandered.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, Roman Payne, 2019
Life’s moments cannot be truly spent; they are either lived fully or wasted, prompting reflection on how we engage with time.
In simple terms: Time is lived, not spent.
Key Takeaway
Live fully, avoid waste.
Themes
time
life
reflection
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- daily routines
- creative projects
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
existentialism
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you measure time by activity or feeling?
- What does “living the spring” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Time can feel wasted despite effort.
