proverb · Words worth keeping
Lost time is never found again.
Lost time is never found again.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying treats lost time as something that cannot be found again. It emphasises the passing and non-repeatable character of an occasion.
What the words are saying
The missing-object image encourages attention to the present. A responsible reading distinguishes a missed opportunity from a worthless life and does not label rest as wasted time. A later chance may still matter even if the original moment cannot return.
Everyday example
Someone considers a useful next step rather than condemning all time before it as wasted.
When to use it
Use it to discuss passing opportunities with future possibilities retained.
What it does not mean
A missed moment does not make later effort futile or rest worthless.
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 571; PDF page 83
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.