On Time

One cannot buy, rent or hire more time. The supply of time is totally inelastic. No matter how high the demand, the supply will not go up. There is no price for it. Time is totally perishable and cannot be stored. Yesterday's time is gone forever, and will never come back. Time is always in short supply. There is no substitute for time. Everything requires time. All work takes place in, and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable and necessary resource.

时间无法购买或者租借。时间供应全无弹性，无论需求多高，供应一概不变。时间没有定价。时间容易消逝、无法储存。昨日之时间一去永不复返。时间永远供不应求。时间没有替代品。万物皆需要时间。所有工作都在时间中进行，并将时间用尽。然而大多数人却把时间这种独一无二、不可替代的必要资源视为当然，不知珍惜。

彼得·格鲁克