Who first said time is money?
Asked by: Cordelia Gerhold | Last update: February 24, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (15 votes)
The phrase "time is money" was popularized by Benjamin Franklin in his 1748 essay, "Advice to a Young Tradesman," where he wrote, "Remember that time is money," emphasizing that wasted time means lost income for a worker. While Franklin popularized the modern phrasing and its economic context, the idea that time has significant value has roots in ancient Greek thought, with similar concepts appearing earlier, but Franklin's essay firmly established the adage in English.
What is the origin of the phrase time is money?
The origin of the phrase: Time Is Money is an aphorism that originated in “Advice to a Young Tradesman”, an essay by Benjamin Franklin that appeared in George Fisher's 1748 book, The American Instructor: or Young Man's Best Companion, in which Franklin wrote, “Remember that time is money.”
What was Benjamin Franklin's famous quote?
For example, one of the most-popular sayings attributed to Franklin is, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” This appears to be a combination of two Franklin proverbs. Other famous Franklin quotes are well-documented. In “Advice To A Young Tradesman,” Franklin writes that, “Remember that time is money.”
What is the origin of time is money?
It means that your time holds the same value as money. It's a phrase often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. It appeared in his essay "Advice to a Young Tradesman," written in 1748. Inside, Franklin emphasises the importance of hard work, frugality, and efficiency in business.
What did Benjamin Franklin mean when he said time is money?
Benjamin Franklin's famous phrase "Time is money" is a metaphor emphasizing the economic value of time. He meant that time, like money, is a valuable resource, and wasting time is similar to wasting money.
Time Is Money Is A Very Expensive Lie
What did Thomas Jefferson say about money?
Let's look at some of their financial quotes to see how well they hold up today. Thomas Jefferson: “Never spend your money before you have earned it.” Jefferson's advice is still relevant today. Not living within your means leads to debt and financial insecurity, a lesson Jefferson learned too late in his life.
What is the most famous quote about time?
10 Best Time Quotes
- The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. ...
- Time is money. ...
- Time waits for no one. ...
- Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. ...
- Lost time is never found again. ...
- Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend. ...
- Time is the wisest counselor of all.
Why is time called money?
The phrase "time is money" means that every second is precious and should be used properly. Unlike money, which can be recovered if lost, time can never return. Students benefit by making daily plans and finishing work ahead of deadlines. Entrepreneurs and athletes succeed by making each hour count.
What was money called in 1776?
In 1776, the money used in the American colonies included colonial paper currency, British and Spanish coins, and the newly issued Continental Currency, a paper money backed by anticipated taxes, often called "Continentals," which famously lost value, leading to the phrase "not worth a Continental". A pattern coin, the Continental Dollar, was also proposed by Benjamin Franklin, minted in pewter, brass, and silver, featuring "Mind Your Business".
Is it possible to have too much free time?
According to study results published earlier this month in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, an individual's well-being increases in correlation with their free time — but only to a certain point. While having too little free time isn't healthy, having too much also diminishes well-being.
What did Benjamin Franklin say before he died?
Benjamin Franklin's reported last words were, "A dying man can do nothing easily," uttered to his daughter, Sarah, when she suggested he move to a more comfortable position in bed as he was struggling to breathe. He died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84, with these words reflecting his struggle with his final illness, according to The National Constitution Center.
What is the most famous quote of all time?
There's no single "most famous" quote, but top contenders include iconic lines like Neil Armstrong's "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage," and famous advice like "If you can dream it, you can do it" (Walt Disney) or "The unexamined life is not worth living" (Socrates), often cited for their profound impact and widespread recognition.
What did Mark Twain think of Benjamin Franklin?
As Twain put it, Franklin's “simplest acts were contrived with a view to their being held up for the emulation of boys forever – boys who might otherwise have been happy.” Twain could trust that Franklin's works would be familiar to almost any audience, a ubiquity truly unusual for the time.
What is Benjamin Franklin's most famous quote?
Benjamin Franklin is well known for his quote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Franklin wrote and spoke many witty sayings relating to mortality issues, some humorous, some serious.
Is time truly money?
Time is the currency of life, and it is your most valuable asset. It's not only your most valuable personal asset, but also your company's.
What did Ben Franklin say about time?
Franklin's quote is most relevant. “Lost time is never found again.” Use even the smallest free time to do something. If you finish something early, keep your work with you.
How much was $1,000,000 dollars worth in 1776?
$1,000,000 in 1776 had immense buying power, equivalent to over $1.1 million in 1776 dollars itself (due to inflation within that year) and significantly more today, representing hundreds of millions of modern dollars, depending on the calculator, with some estimates suggesting it could be over $300 million or more when adjusted for inflation over 250 years.
How much is a $2 dollar bill from 1776 worth today?
A $2 bill with "1776" usually refers to a modern U.S. $2 Federal Reserve Note featuring the 1776 Declaration of Independence signing on the back; most are worth face value ($2), but uncirculated notes or those with rare serial numbers (like ladder notes, solid numbers, or '1' serials) or errors can be worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, while true 1776 Continental Currency notes (issued by the Continental Congress) are very rare and valuable collectibles, ranging from over $100 to thousands depending on condition.
Did the U.S. ever have a $1000 bill?
Yes, the U.S. government did issue $1,000 bills, starting in the 1860s and ending with the last print run in 1945, though they were primarily for bank-to-bank transfers, not general public use, and were officially discontinued in 1969 due to lack of use and money laundering concerns. These large-denomination bills, featuring portraits like Grover Cleveland on later versions, are still legal tender but are very rare, with most now held by collectors.
Who came up with the phrase "time is money"?
Use your time wisely
The old “time is money” platitude was first expressed in 1748 by Benjamin Franklin in his essay “Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One.” He examined the cost of lost time lazing around instead of exchanging labor for wages.
Is time precious than money?
In fact, time is much more valuable than money because you can use your time to make money, but you can't use money to purchase more time. Time is the great equalizer… each day has only 24 hours — nobody has any more than anyone else.
Is time is money a paradox?
The Paradox of Time and Money: A Fundamental Trade-Off Life is replete with mysteries, and one of the most profound is the inherent trade-off between time and money. This paradox suggests that individuals can rarely, if ever, possess both abundance of time and wealth simultaneously.
What is Einstein's quote about time?
Albert Einstein said time isn't absolute but relative, depending on speed and gravity, forming the fabric of spacetime, and famously called the past, present, and future a "stubbornly persistent illusion," meaning they aren't fixed realities but coexist in a block universe, with our perception of a linear flow being a construct. His theories showed time can slow down (time dilation) for objects in motion or strong gravity, unifying space and time into a single, flexible dimension.
What is the most famous quote ever in history?
There's no single "most famous" quote, but top contenders include iconic lines like Neil Armstrong's "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage," and famous advice like "If you can dream it, you can do it" (Walt Disney) or "The unexamined life is not worth living" (Socrates), often cited for their profound impact and widespread recognition.
What did Oscar Wilde say about time?
Oscar Wilde quote about time from The Picture of Dorian Gray: “He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time.”