“When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one more letter in it, but it doesn't take half as long to say.”

—  Edith Wharton

The Children http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks04/0400741.txt (1928), ch. XXV

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one more letter in it, but it doesn't take half as lo…" by Edith Wharton?
Edith Wharton photo
Edith Wharton 103
American novelist, short story writer, designer 1862–1937

Related quotes

Mario Puzo photo

“You cannot say 'no' to the people you love, not often. That's the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a 'yes'. Or you have to make them say 'no.' You have to take time and trouble.”

Mario Puzo The Godfather

Source: The Godfather

Stephen Colbert photo

“Cynics always say no. But saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow. Saying yes leads to knowledge. "Yes" is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say yes.”

Stephen Colbert (1964) American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor

Knox College commencement address http://www.knox.edu/colbert.xml (3 June 2006)
Context: Don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow. Saying yes leads to knowledge. "Yes" is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say yes.

Nasreddin photo

“Once Nasreddin was invited to deliver a sermon. When he got on the pulpit, he asked, Do you know what I am going to say? The audience replied "no", so he announced, I have no desire to speak to people who don't even know what I will be talking about! and left.
The people felt embarrassed and called him back again the next day. This time, when he asked the same question, the people replied yes. So Nasreddin said, Well, since you already know what I am going to say, I won't waste any more of your time! and left.
Now the people were really perplexed. They decided to try one more time and once again invited the Mulla to speak the following week. Once again he asked the same question – Do you know what I am going to say? Now the people were prepared and so half of them answered "yes" while the other half replied "no."”

Nasreddin (1208–1284) philosopher, Sufi and wise man from Turkey, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes

So Nasreddin said Let the half who know what I am going to say, tell it to the half who don't, and left.
Alice Kelsey, Once the Hodja (1943), ISBN 0679251014

“You're only young once, they say, but doesn't it go on for a long time? More years than you can bear.”

Hilary Mantel book An Experiment in Love

Source: An Experiment in Love

Muhammad photo

“Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: "Allah's Apostle said, "A time will come upon the people, when a group of people will wage a holy war and it will be said, 'Is there amongst you anyone who has accompanied Allah's Apostle?' They will say, 'Yes.' And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, "Is there amongst you none who has accompanied the companions of Allah's Apostle?' They will say, 'Yes.' And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, "Is there amongst you anyone who has been in the company of the companions of the companions of Allah's Apostle?' They will say, 'Yes.'”

Muhammad (570–632) Arabian religious leader and the founder of Islam

And victory will be bestowed on them."
[5, 57, 1]
Sunni Hadith

Amory B. Lovins photo

“When asked if we have enough time to prevent catastrophe, she'd always say that we have exactly enough time -- starting now”

Amory B. Lovins (1947) American physicist

Amory Lovins' eulogy for Donella Meadows http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/996.html

“Poetry is the language in which man explores his own amazement… says heaven and earth in one word… speaks of himself and his predicament as though for the first time. It has the virtue of being able to say twice as much as prose in half the time, and the drawback, if you do not give it your full attention, of seeming to say half as much in twice the time.”

Christopher Fry (1907–2005) British writer

Time, New York, April 3, 1950

Arnold Bennett photo

“Which of us is not saying to himself
which of us has not been saying to himself all
his life:
"
I shall alter that when I have a little
more time"?
We never shall have any more time. We
have, and we have always had, all the time
there is.”

Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) English novelist

Source: How to Live on 24 Hours a Day

Brené Brown photo

“Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They're compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.”

Brené Brown (1965) US writer and professor

Source: Rising Strong

Ellen DeGeneres photo

“Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes.
Yes.
No.
One time in high school.
Three times in my twenties.
Rocks no salt.
Yes.
Four.
Never. And how dare you!
I will take no further questions.”

Ellen DeGeneres (1958) American stand-up comedian, television host, and actress

Source: Seriously... I'm Kidding

Related topics