Tempus fugit

This article is about the Latin expression. For other uses of the English expression, see Time Flies. For other uses, see Tempus fugit (disambiguation).

Tempus fugit on a sundial

Tempus fugit augebitur scientia on a sundial in Redu, Belgium

Tempus fugit is a Latin expression meaning "time flees", more commonly translated as "time flies". It is frequently used as an inscription on clocks. The expression was first recorded in the poem Georgics written by Roman poet Virgil: Sed fugit interea, fugit irreparabile tempus, singula dum capti circumvectamur amore, which means, "But meanwhile it flees: time flees irretrievably, while we wander around, prisoners of our love of detail."

In English, the expression — either in the Latin (tempus fugit) or English form ("time flies") — is proverbial, generally with the intended sense, "Time's a-wasting". As such, it expresses concern that one's limited time is being consumed by nothing in particular or by something which may have little intrinsic substance, importance, or urgency.

See also

• Ars longa, vita brevis
• Carpe diem
• Memento mori
• Breve et inreparabile tempus omnibus est vitae (Italian)

External links

• Ralegh's poem at an English Literature Site