Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet
“Time flies, eternity remains.”
Latin saying
What does “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet” mean?
Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet translates as “Time flies, eternity remains.”
Our days pass quickly, but what is eternal endures beyond them. The line puts daily worries into a larger perspective.
“Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Tempus | time | nominative singular neuter of tempus, “time”; the subject of fugit |
| fugit | flies, flees | third person singular present indicative active of fugio, “I flee, I fly” |
| aeternitas | eternity | nominative singular feminine of aeternitas, “eternity”; the subject of manet |
| manet | remains, endures | third person singular present indicative active of maneo, “I remain” |
How to pronounce “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet”
The two differ in fugit (hard g in Classical, j in Church) and in the opening of aeternitas (eye- versus eh-). The i of aeternitas is short, so the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable, TER. Fugit is stressed on its first syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “time flees, eternity remains”. It is built from two short clauses, each with a single noun and a single verb, set side by side as a contrast.
Its first half, tempus fugit, is one of the best-known Latin sayings. The thought echoes the Roman poet Virgil, who writes in the Georgics of time “flying beyond recall”, although the exact two-word phrase is a later condensation.
Its first use is not recorded. The extended form fits the long tradition of clock and sundial inscriptions, where a short Latin line reminds the viewer how quickly the hours pass. It is a modern Latin saying with no known author.
How to use “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet”
It suits an inscription on a grandfather clock, a sundial or a memorial bench, where the first half names the passing hours and the second offers comfort. It also works as a tattoo or a closing line in a eulogy or reflective essay.
- Latin
- Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet
- English
- Time flies, eternity remains.
- Source
- Latin saying
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Time
Common mistakes
- Do not credit it to Virgil or any other ancient author. Only the shorter “Tempus fugit” has an ancient ancestor, and the longer line has no recorded source.
- Fugit means “flees, flies”, not “fugitive” or “was fleeing”. It is a present-tense verb, so the line states a general truth.
- Do not drop the comma or run the two halves together as one clause. They are two separate statements set in contrast.
- Avoid changing manet to “manent” unless the subject is plural. With one subject, aeternitas, it stays manet.
Questions about “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet”
What does “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet” mean?
It means “Time flies, eternity remains”. Our days pass quickly, but what is eternal endures beyond them.
Who said “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet”?
No author is known. It is a Latin saying built on the older “Tempus fugit”, and its first use is not recorded.
How do you pronounce “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet”?
In Classical Latin: TEM-poos FOO-gith eye-TER-nih-tahs MAH-net. In Church Latin the g of fugit becomes j and aeternitas begins with eh-.
Is “Tempus fugit, aeternitas manet” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: two present-tense clauses, each with a subject and verb. Check the spelling of aeternitas, which keeps the “ae”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.