Time and Tyde stayes for no man.
James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]
(Source)
Modern: "Time and tide wait for no man."
This phrase actually dates back at least as far as St. Marher (1225): "And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet [The tide nor time abides for, tarrieth for no man]." A version appears in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (late 14th C): Though we sleep, or wake, or roam, or ride / Aye fleeth time, it will no man abide." Variations become common in the 16th Century, e.g., "Time nor tide tarrieth no man."
Though tide works here as most interpret it (the tide comes in, the tide goes out), the original usage of the word in this phrase meant more broadly "season" or "period" or any recurring interval (including oceanic tides). It could be found in terms like "Christmastide" and "eventide," and remains in modern English in words like "tidings" and "tidy."
For more info, see:
Quotations about:
tide
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
A censor is a man who has read about Joshua and forgotten about Canute. The censor believes that he can hold back the mighty traffic of life with a tin whistle and a raised right hand. For, after all, it is life with which he quarrels.
