Time brings all things to pass.

The ancient tragedian Aeschylus, voice of Greece and father of dramatic poetry, once declared: “Time brings all things to pass.” In this utterance we hear not mere observation, but a truth carved into the very bones of existence. For time is the great river, unceasing in its flow, wearing down mountains, healing wounds, exposing hidden truths, and carrying forward all that lives. What human will cannot accomplish, what power cannot command, time itself will bring to completion. Thus, Aeschylus teaches us to look beyond the immediacy of the hour and see the longer arc upon which destiny unfolds.

The origin of these words is found in Aeschylus’ tragedies, where the workings of fate, the justice of the gods, and the passage of time are ever-present. In an age when Greeks pondered the mysteries of destiny, he gave voice to the conviction that nothing escapes the grasp of time. Empires rise and fall, passions flame and fade, grief softens, victories lose their brightness—all are subject to time’s slow and certain hand. To the ancients, time was not a mere measurement, but a divine force, impartial and irresistible, shaping all existence.

History testifies to this eternal law. Consider the fall of Troy, a city thought impregnable, whose walls had withstood ten years of siege. Neither sword nor fire could conquer it quickly. Yet time, wearing down the defenders, eroding their hope, and finally delivering them into the deception of the wooden horse, brought the city to ruin. What men could not achieve in a day, time achieved through patience. Thus, Aeschylus’ words reveal the quiet, relentless victory of duration over might.

We see also the gentler side of this truth in the story of Nelson Mandela. For twenty-seven years he endured the stones and iron bars of imprisonment. Many thought his cause defeated, his voice silenced. Yet time worked in secret, softening hearts, shifting political landscapes, preparing the hour of change. When he emerged, the world saw not a broken man, but a leader ready to reconcile and rebuild. His freedom and his nation’s transformation were proof that time brings all things to pass, even when hope seems buried beneath decades of shadow.

The deeper meaning of Aeschylus’ teaching is this: nothing is fixed in permanence except the flow of time itself. Suffering may seem endless, but it shall pass. Triumph may feel eternal, but it too will fade. The seeds planted in patience may take years to grow, yet time will bring them to harvest. To understand this is to live with both humility and courage—humility, knowing that today’s glory will not last forever, and courage, knowing that today’s sorrow will not endure either.

The lesson is clear: trust the passage of time. Do not despair when trials are heavy, for time will carry them away. Do not grow arrogant when fortune smiles, for time will test and temper it. Instead, anchor yourself in patience, endurance, and faith in the long unfolding of life. What is not resolved today will find its resolution in the seasons to come. As rivers carve valleys, as stars burn through darkness, so will time shape all things to their end.

Practically, this means cultivating patience and perspective. When difficulties rise, remember they are temporary. When dreams seem distant, persevere, for time is your ally if you remain steadfast. Plant good deeds, nurture learning, and tend to relationships, even if the fruit seems far off. Time will bring them to bloom. And when facing injustice, trust that while evil may triumph for a season, time will bring forth truth, for all that is hidden shall be revealed.

So remember, children of tomorrow: time brings all things to pass. Do not rush the river, nor fear its current. Walk steadily, plant wisely, endure bravely. For the river of time flows on, carrying grief into healing, carrying struggle into triumph, carrying today into eternity. He who walks with time as a companion, not an enemy, shall find that all things, in their season, come to pass.