Today’s quote is from Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu (also written as Laozi) was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, traditionally considered the founder of Taoism (or Taoism). He is believed to have lived around the 6th century BC, around the same time as Confucius.
Legend has it that he worked as a scholar and keeper of the Zhou Dynasty’s royal archives before tiring of society’s corruption, setting off west on a water buffalo, and writing the Tao Te Ching, the central text of Daoist thought, before disappearing.Whether Lao Tzu was a single historical figure or a title representing a group of wise thinkers, his influence on Eastern philosophy is enormous. Taoism focuses on living in harmony with the Tao (“the Way”), the natural, flowing order of the universe.
Instead of imposing things, fighting against reality, or chasing endless desires, Taoism preaches simplicity, humility, and moving effortlessly with the natural rhythm of life.“Time is a created thing. Saying ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying ‘I don’t want to'” is one of the most memorable quotes from Lao Tzu because it never gets old. He teaches us something we encounter every day – someone who makes an excuse for a lack of time and, in effect, clarifies his priorities.
There is nothing hasty in nature
In modern Western culture, we tend to view time as a ticking clock, a rare inanimate resource that is constantly running out. We divide our days into minutes, set strict schedules, and measure our worth by how productive we are.Lao Tzu and the early Taoists saw the world very differently. He said that in nature, nothing is in a hurry, but everything gets done. Seasons change on their own, trees grow without stress, and rivers flow around obstacles without making their way through them.For the Taoist, nature does not work according to a clock; It works on presence and priority. When humans invented clocks, calendars, and strict daily routines, we created the artificial concept of “not having enough time.” Lao Tzu’s philosophy reminds us that time is not a physical monster that haunts us: it is a mental construct that is entirely shaped by what we choose to pay attention to.
Timeless quote on time
This quote is a frank and radical reality check about human agency, responsibility, and priorities.Lao Tzu said that time as we understand it is not in an inexhaustible physical constraint like gravity. Time is made up of choices. Every person on Earth gets the same 24 hours a day. Today’s fabric expands or contracts depending on how we choose to fill it. When you say, “I wish I had time to exercise,” or “I don’t have time to read,” you act as if time were an external master governing you. In fact, you are the creator of your schedule.
You “create” time for the things you value, and destroy time for the things you ignore.Not having time for something is a lie. If you don’t have time for something, it means you don’t want to do it. Lao Tzu strips us of our excuses. He points out that saying “I don’t have time” is almost always a passive-aggressive translation of:“This is not a top priority for me right now.”“I don’t care about this enough to make room for him.”“I’m not willing to sacrifice anything else for this.”It forces us to own our decisions. If you really want to do something, you will leave something less important to make room for it.While the quote seems harsh at first, its deeper purpose is actually liberating. If time is truly a rigid cage beyond your control, you will be a helpless victim of your busy life. But if time is something you make, you hold the keys. You are in complete control of your priorities. Realizing this allows you to stop feeling guilty about the things you don’t do. Instead of saying, “I don’t have time to learn a language,” you can honestly say, “I’m choosing to focus my energy on my career and family right now, so learning a language isn’t a priority for me.
“This simple transformation takes back your personal agency.