The secret to modern life is finding the measure in time

The words of Hugh Jackman, though clothed in the language of the everyday, resound with the gravity of eternal wisdom: “The secret to modern life is finding the measure in time management. I have two kids, a career and I travel, and I don’t think my life is any different than most couples. The most valuable commodity now for many people is time and how to parcel that out.” In this utterance, we hear the voice of a man who, though adorned with fame, speaks the common truth of all humanity—that the greatest wealth is not gold, not land, not titles, but time, and how one chooses to shape it.

From the earliest civilizations, wise men sought the art of balance. The Greek philosophers spoke of sophrosyne, the virtue of moderation, of finding harmony between excess and neglect. The Romans, with their sundials and calendars, measured the passing of hours, knowing that without order, life dissolves into chaos. Jackman joins this lineage when he speaks of measure, for to measure one’s days is not to restrict life, but to free it—to ensure that no part of existence, whether family, career, or the spirit’s need for rest, is left untended.

The meaning of the quote lies in this truth: that in the modern age, where demands multiply and distractions abound, the true struggle is not for survival but for balance. To be a parent, a partner, a worker, and a traveler is to walk a path filled with many pulls upon the soul. Without discipline, one may give all to work and lose the joy of children; or give all to leisure and abandon one’s purpose. The art of time management is not a dull calculation, but the sacred practice of honoring every role entrusted to us.

History offers us luminous examples. Consider Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome. Burdened with the weight of empire, leading armies, governing peoples, he yet found time each dawn and night to write his Meditations. In stolen moments, he reflected upon virtue, mortality, and duty, leaving behind wisdom that still guides us. He, too, knew that though emperors may command legions, they cannot command time—they can only measure it, honor it, and use it wisely.

Jackman’s words also humble us, for though he walks in the glare of fame, he claims no special difference between himself and others. The struggle to balance kids, career, and the demands of travel is not his alone—it is the struggle of millions. In this humility lies the universal truth: time is the one commodity equally given to all, yet unequally spent. The poor and the rich, the powerful and the obscure, all drink from the same river of hours.

The lesson for us is clear: treasure your time as you would treasure the rarest jewel. Do not squander it on distractions that steal but do not give. Instead, divide it with care—give to your family the gift of presence, to your work the gift of focus, to your body the gift of rest, and to your spirit the gift of reflection. In doing so, you will not merely manage hours—you will create a life of wholeness.

Thus, let this wisdom be passed on: The true secret of modern life is not speed, nor endless striving, but measure. To master time is not to control it, but to live in harmony with it, to weave each fleeting moment into a tapestry of meaning. Be wise in the parceling of your hours, for no one can add more to their span. The one who honors time honors life itself, and leaves behind a legacy not of exhaustion, but of balance, love, and purpose.