proverb · Words worth keeping
It is not enough to run; you must start on time.
It is not enough to run; you must start on time.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Running is contrasted with starting on time. The saying suggests that effort may be ineffective if it begins too late for the aim.
What the words are saying
The race-like image distinguishes intensity from timing. A useful application identifies an actual deadline or dependency before judging a start late. The supplied winning gloss is not proof that timely action guarantees victory; conditions beyond effort and timing can affect results.
Everyday example
A team begins a necessary preparatory task early enough for the work that depends on it.
When to use it
Use it to examine the relation between effort, timing and a specific aim.
What it does not mean
Starting on time does not guarantee success, and rushing is not always the appropriate response.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 846; PDF page 119
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.