What does ‘time is money’ mean?
To “time is money” means to time is a valuable resource; don't waste it. The maxim is popularly associated with Benjamin Franklin's Advice to a Young Tradesman (1748); Brewer's notes Franklin's phrase.
Origin
- The maxim is popularly associated with Benjamin Franklin's Advice to a Young Tradesman (1748); Brewer's notes Franklin's phrase.
How to use it
- Common in business writing.
- Example: Let's keep the meeting short — time is money.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.