{{short description|Latin phrase meaning "time flies"}} {{Italic title}} {{other uses}} thumb|A winged hourglass representing time flying, designed for gravestones and monuments '''''Tempus fugit''''' ({{IPA|la-x-classic|ˈt̪ɛmpʊs̠ ˈfʊɡit̪}}) is a Latin phrase, usually translated into English as "'''time flies'''". However, the literal translation of 'fugit' is 'flees' not 'flies'. The expression comes from line 284 of book 3 of Virgil's ''Georgics'',<ref name=pube>Vergilius Maro, Publius. ''Georgicon'', III. c. 29 BC. Hosted at Wikisource. {{in lang|la}}</ref> where it appears as ''fugit'' ''irreparabile'' ''tempus'': "it escapes, irretrievable time". The phrase is used in both its Latin and English forms as a proverb that "time's a-wasting".
==Usage== [[File:Redu CS3aJPG.jpg|thumb|An example of the phrase as a sundial motto in Redu, Belgium]] ''Tempus fugit'' is typically employed as an admonition against sloth and procrastination (cf. ''carpe diem'') rather than an argument for 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 is a common motto, particularly on sundials and clocks. It also has been used on gravestones.
Some writers have attempted rebuttals: "Time goes, you say? Ah, no! alas, time stays, we go." by Henry Austin Dobson (1840–1921)."Hêd Amser! / Meddi Na! / Erys Amser / Dyn Â" on sundial at Univ of Bangor, North Wales. says the sundial was commissioned by Sir William Henry Preece, and offers an English equivalent: "Time flies, thou sayest – Nay! Man flies; Time still doth stay." Another English version is: "Time Flies, Say Not So: Time Remains,'Tis Man Must Go."
Bud Powell's composition "Tempus Fugue-it" is a pun on the phrase.
==In the ''Georgics''== The phrase's full appearance in Virgil's ''Georgics'' is: {|class="wikitable" |- ! Original<br /><small>(Virgil)<ref name=pube /></small> ! Translation<br /><small>(Dryden)<ref>Dryden, John (trans.). [https://books.google.com/books?id=pB0-AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA163 ''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.</ref></small> ! Translation<br /><small>(Rhoades)<ref>Rhoades, James (trans.). [http://classics.mit.edu/Virgil/georgics.3.iii.html ''Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics of Vergil'']. Ginn & Co. (Boston), 1900. Hosted at MIT. Accessed 30 May 2014.</ref></small> |- | ''Omne'' ''adeo'' ''genus'' ''in'' ''terris'' ''hominum''''que'' ''ferarum''''que'' | Thus every Creature , and of every Kind ,<br />The secret Joys of sweet Coition find :<br />Not only Man's Imperial Race ; . . . | Nay, every race on earth of men, and beasts, |- | ''et'' ''genus'' ''aequoreum'', ''pecudes'' ''pictae''''que'' ''volucres'', | . . . but they<br />That wing the liquid Air ; or swim the Sea ,<br />Or haunt the Desart , . . . | And ocean-folk, and flocks, and painted birds, |- | ''in'' ''furias'' ''ignem''''que'' ''ruunt'': ''amor'' ''omnibus'' ''idem''. ... | . . . rush into the flame :<br />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'' ''irreparabile'' ''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 ;<br />Surveying Nature , with too nice a view . | As point to point our charmed round we trace. |}
==See also== * Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana * ''Ars longa, vita brevis'' * ''Carpe diem'' * ''Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do!'', sung by Elvis Presley, in which "times a wasting" appears as a lyric. * ''Memento mori''
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commonscat}} * {{wti|tempus fugit|''tempus fugit''}}
{{Time Topics}} {{Virgil}}
Category:Latin mottos Category:Latin words and phrases Category:Time management Category:Virgil