Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. — William Shakespeare

Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.

Author: William Shakespeare

Insight: We live in a culture obsessed with perfect timing, yet most of us are chronically late. We hit snooze, we "just need five more minutes," we convince ourselves we can shave time off the commute. But Shakespeare's point cuts through all our optimizations: arriving early is almost always better than arriving late, even if it feels wasteful at the time. The discomfort of being early—that awkward quarter hour in an empty waiting room—actually costs you almost nothing. What it buys is peace of mind, respect for other people's time, and freedom from the mild panic that comes with rushing. Being late, by contrast, sends a message you might not intend: that your schedule matters more than theirs. It also creates a ripple effect where everyone else becomes slightly more stressed and less present because you've thrown off the rhythm. The real insight here isn't really about punctuality as a virtue. It's that we underestimate how much anxiety and friction comes from cutting things close. Building in buffer time—whether for appointments, deadlines, or travel—doesn't just make you look reliable. It fundamentally changes how you experience your day. You get to walk in calm instead of frantic. That matters.

Source: Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 2, scene 2