Not only will this make you treat each moment more preciously

Hear the words of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Rebbe, a guide to generations: “Not only will this make you treat each moment more preciously, but you will be more patient with yourself and with others, recognizing that there are millions of moments on the path to any worthwhile achievement.” In this saying lies the essence of wisdom: that life is not to be measured only in great victories or singular triumphs, but in the countless small steps, the hidden breaths, the quiet acts that lead us forward.

The Rebbe teaches that each moment is sacred. Too often men and women squander time, waiting only for the grand event—the prize, the recognition, the destination. But greatness is never forged in one instant; it is built upon a thousand unnoticed hours. To treat each moment preciously is to live awake, to see meaning in the mundane, to understand that the smallest brick is as essential as the cornerstone in building a temple.

And from this reverence for time arises patience. For when we realize that life’s achievements are made of countless moments, we cease to demand that all things happen at once. We forgive ourselves when progress is slow. We forgive others when they falter, knowing they too are on their path of moments. Patience is not passivity—it is trust in the slow unfolding of time, a confidence that the countless small steps will one day lead to the summit.

History speaks with clarity. Consider the life of Thomas Edison. His invention of the light bulb was not a single flash of inspiration but the fruit of thousands of trials. Each experiment was a moment, seemingly insignificant, yet each one moved him closer to his goal. Had he despised those small moments, had he demanded instant success, the light of his invention might never have dawned. Instead, his patience with himself, his recognition that even failure was part of the journey, bore fruit that illuminated the world.

So too, in the spiritual life, the same lesson holds. The sages of Israel did not become wise in a day. They studied line upon line, moment upon moment, weaving together wisdom through years of devotion. Their greatness was not sudden but accumulated, like a river formed from countless drops. The Rebbe’s teaching echoes this eternal truth: every moment matters, and every moment patiently embraced leads toward enduring achievement.

The meaning of this quote also serves as a shield against despair. For when one looks only at the vastness of the journey, the heart may grow weary. But when one looks instead at the single moment before them—this prayer, this task, this act of kindness—the burden becomes bearable. The path of a thousand miles is made of steps, and he who honors each step will not stumble under the weight of distance.

The lesson is clear: live with reverence for time. Be patient with yourself when progress seems slow; be patient with others when they falter. Do not despise the small moments, for they are the substance of life itself. Recognize that every smile, every prayer, every effort is a stone laid upon the road to greatness. In this way, you will not only achieve, but you will learn to cherish the journey as much as the destination.

Practical wisdom stands before you: Begin each day by honoring its moments. Do not rush past them in hunger for the future. Instead, embrace the rhythm of time—slow, steady, unfolding. When you fail, count it as a step. When others disappoint you, remember that they too are walking through their countless steps. And always hold fast to the truth: there are millions of moments on the path to any worthwhile achievement, and each one, if lived well, brings you closer to eternity.