Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, Thats why it's called the Present.
Many people have been credited with this saying, including Babatunde Olatunji (60's) and Eleanor Roosevelt (30's). But the orginal saying goes much further back in time.
The full quote often reads: "The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present."
In the 1902 book, "Sun Dials and Roses of Yesterday: Garden Delights..." by Alice Morse Earle, it is noted that the words "Time Waits for No Man" is a play on words or punning device of "gnomon" that has been used on sun dials. A gnomon is a pointer on a sun dial. Somewhere along the way came the full quote which has been truncated to this modern day phrase.
Many believe the phrase has its root in "Time and Tide wait for No Man," meaning no one is so powerful that he can stop the march of time. According to "The Phrase Finder":
The origin is uncertain, although it's clear that the phrase is ancient and that it predates modern English. The earliest known record is from St. Marher, 1225.
No comments:
Post a Comment