Tempus fugit

An example of the phrase as a sundial motto in Redu, Belgium.

Tempus fugit is a Latin phrase, usually translated into English as "time flies". The expression comes from line 284 of book 3 of Virgil's Georgics,^[1] where it appears as fugit inreparabile tempus: "it escapes, irretrievable time". The phrase is used in both its Latin and English forms as a proverb that "time's a-wasting". Tempus fugit, however, is typically employed as an admonition against sloth and procrastination (cf. carpe diem) rather than a motto in favor of licentiousness (cf. "gather ye rosebuds while ye may"); the English form is often merely descriptive: "time flies like the wind", "time flies when you're having fun".

The phrase's full appearance in the Georgics is:

Original (Vergil)[1]	Translation (Dryden)[2]	Translation (Rhoades)[3]
Omne adeo genus in terris hominumque ferarumque	Thus every Creature , and of every Kind , The secret Joys of sweet Coition find : Not only Man's Imperial Race ; . . .	Nay, every race on earth of men, and beasts,
et genus aequoreum, pecudes pictaeque volucres,	. . . but they That wing the liquid Air ; or swim the Sea , Or haunt the Desart , . . .	And ocean-folk, and flocks, and painted birds,
in furias ignem que ruunt: amor omnibus idem. ...	. . . rush into the flame : For Love is Lord of all ; and is in all the same .	Rush to the raging fire: love sways them all.
Sed fugit interea, fugit inreparabile tempus,	But time is lost , which never will renew ,	Fast flies meanwhile the irreparable hour,
singula dum capti circumvectamur amore.	While we too far the pleasing Path pursue ; Surveying Nature , with too nice a view .	As point to point our charmed round we trace.

The phrase is a common motto, particularly on sundials and clocks.

See also

• Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
• ars longa, vita brevis; carpe diem; memento mori
• (Italian) breve et inreparabile tempus omnibus est vitae

References

1. Vergilius Maro, Publius. Georgicon, III. c. 29 BC. Hosted at Wikisource. (Latin)
2. Dryden, John (trans.). The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis, 3rd ed., Vol. I, pp. 163–166. Jacob Tonson (London), 1709. Hosted at Google Books. Accessed 30 May 2014.
3. Rhoades, James (trans.). Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics of Vergil. Ginn & Co. (Boston), 1900. Hosted at MIT. Accessed 30 May 2014.

External links

• The dictionary definition of tempus fugit at Wiktionary