We must go fast, because the race is against time.

The actress and singer of the stage, Anna Held, spoke with urgency when she declared: “We must go fast, because the race is against time.” Though her world was one of performance and fleeting applause, her words strike far deeper, reaching into the very marrow of human existence. For in truth, all men and women live under the shadow of time. The hourglass does not pause, the sun does not delay its setting, and the heartbeat ticks forward without rest. Thus, life itself is a race not against enemies, nor rivals, but against the relentless march of time.

The origin of this quote lies in the life of Held herself, who rose to fame in the late nineteenth century as a star of the Broadway stage. She knew the brevity of glory, how swiftly applause fades, how soon beauty withers, and how quickly opportunities vanish. Her words were not only about her art, but about life’s urgency. She saw that hesitation, delay, or fear can rob a soul of its chance, for time waits for no one. Her reminder is as sharp today as when she spoke it: we are all in a race, and the finish line approaches whether or not we run.

The ancients knew this truth as well. The Romans coined the phrase tempus fugit—time flies. The Greeks spoke of Kairos, the opportune moment, which must be seized lest it vanish forever. Even the psalmists of Israel prayed, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” In all cultures, across all ages, the same refrain rises: life is brief, and its moments are precious. Anna Held’s cry is but another echo of this eternal chorus: we must go fast, for the race is against time itself.

History bears witness to this urgency. Consider the mission of the Wright brothers, who dreamed of conquering the skies. They raced not only against their rivals but against time—knowing that every failure, every delay, risked losing their place in history. By pressing forward with relentless urgency, they seized their moment, and the world took flight. Or reflect on the Manhattan Project, where scientists toiled night and day, believing that delay might cost their nation its survival. In both triumph and peril, humanity has learned that time is not neutral—it is the field upon which destiny is won or lost.

The meaning of Held’s words is therefore both sobering and inspiring. To move slowly, to procrastinate, to wait endlessly for the “right time” is to be defeated before the contest begins. For time devours hesitation. But to move with courage, to act swiftly, to seize the day with boldness—that is to honor the gift of life. The race is not about haste without thought, but about urgency with purpose.

The lesson, then, is clear: do not squander your hours. Do not wait for tomorrow to do what must be done today. Speak the words of love now, pursue the vision now, labor for your calling now. For each delay is stolen by the hand of time, and each missed moment is gone forever. The swift and the wise understand that life is short, and they run with focus, not with waste.

In practice, I counsel this: rise each day with the resolve to spend your time, not merely to let it pass. Write down what matters most, and pursue it with vigor. Set aside the distractions that consume your hours, and pour your strength into what gives meaning. Treat each day as if it were both your last and your first—a chance to begin anew, and a chance that may never come again.

Thus, remember the words of Anna Held: “We must go fast, because the race is against time.” Do not drift as though eternity were yours to squander. Run with courage, run with joy, run with purpose—for the finish line comes sooner than we think. And though the race is short, those who run well leave behind a legacy that time itself cannot erase.