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Time tries all.

Time tries all.
Traditional

Historical period not yet established

Meaning in plain English

The passage of time can reveal whether a claim or arrangement remains sound. The saying values observation beyond an initial impression, without making age alone proof of truth or postponing a needed judgement indefinitely.

What the words are saying

Time acts as the examiner in the proverb’s image. In a useful reading, repeated use or changing conditions can show a quality that one early encounter cannot establish. A promise may be checked through what follows, and a method can be assessed through its actual results. But waiting is not a complete test on its own. An old claim can remain unsupported, while a new one may already have strong evidence. The saying encourages a suitable period of observation alongside relevant checks, rather than replacing them with duration or refusing every decision until the entire future has unfolded.

Everyday example

A group reviews whether a new booking process still works after several events rather than judging it only by its smooth first use.

When to use it

Use it when durability or follow-through needs observation over an appropriate period.

What it does not mean

Duration alone does not prove truth; use relevant evidence and make timely decisions when required.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.

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Attribution & collection notes
Author or tradition
Traditional
Attribution: traditional
Country attributed
Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.
Historical period
Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates.
Recorded source
A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases

Entry 1626 · Time

A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.

Culture
English