William Penn — Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.
Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.William Penn
William Penn, 'Some Fruits of Solitude' (1693)
We crave more time and then spend the time we have carelessly — the oldest of human contradictions. Penn names it plainly, without scolding, as a thing simply worth noticing.
Noticing is the start of change. You don't need a grand plan, only a little attention: redirect a few minutes you usually lose, and they become the foundation of real progress.
Words that widen the world
To want something very strongly.
Synonyms: long for, desire, yearn
We crave time, then waste it.
The act of focusing the mind on something.
Synonyms: focus, notice, awareness
A little attention changes how time is spent.
Common questions
It means although we value time more than almost anything, we tend to use it the most carelessly of all our resources.
From William Penn's 1693 book of maxims, 'Some Fruits of Solitude'.
Carry it with you
In your own words, what does this thought mean to you? Write three or four sentences in English about a moment when it felt true — saying it yourself is how it stays with you.
Read more from William Penn
A hand-picked book or collection to sit with this idea longer. Affiliate links — replace # with your tagged URL.
Explore the readingLove this one? Order it as a print or poster → (shop coming soon)