Maxim Monday: Use time sparingly

What does this one even mean? Is this trying to tell us not to waste time? Or to try and do things efficiently, so as to spend the least amount of time on any one task?

We cannot ‘use’ time, as time is a mental construct humans have created. From what I understand, not all societies think of time or interact with it the same ways.

Sparingly means meagrely, pieced out, prudently, with restraint. How do we use time like this?

I have no idea. This one has got me stumped. Do you have any ideas?


13 responses to “Maxim Monday: Use time sparingly

  1. Here’s my thought: The emphasis on this maxim is about “using”. It is, perhaps a delineation between using time as we see fit and doing our best to be in the moment. I’m doing a whole bunch of no-no’s here in ascribing what I view as an eastern idea of being in the moment to an ancient Greek maxim, but whatever, I can use it how I see fit.

    Use time sparingly means to me to have as little a plan as possible and be in the moment. Listen to the world, hear your destiny and use time sparingly when you have to. Use it when you have to, but be in it or be used by it. Submit yourself to the world and see what possibilities open up. Challenging, frightening and thrilling advice.

    • Interesting! I read it almost the opposite way: don’t waste time, don’t spend more time on something than is necessary. Be thoughtful about how you spend your time, and use what time you have well.

      As someone with issues around procrastination and self-numbing through video games, this jabbed me in the butt. 🙂

  2. Translation is one of the most challenging things a linguist can ever do – to accurately reflect an *idea* in a language that is often not a mother tongue. Choices are never as simple as a one-to-one correspondence, even though that’s how simultaneous translation is typically taught in this country. All translations are plagued with better ways to express what is in the original. If there is “wiggle room” for alternate *interpretations*, sometimes that can salvage an otherwise unremarkable technical translation.

  3. Pingback: Maxim Monday | Ego! Ego! Ego!

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