The Courtesy of the Clock: Respecting Time Is Respecting People

The Courtesy of the Clock: Respecting Time Is Respecting People

Wasting your own time may be a choice, but you have no right to waste the time of others. Yet today, treating time as disposable has become alarmingly common.

We’ve grown accustomed to delay: A train running a few minutes late is excused. A meeting starting behind schedule is accepted. Rushing to the airport at the last minute is seen as a savvy hack. In many weddings, it’s now the norm for the bride and groom to arrive late to their own reception—only for guests to then scramble and jostle in line to greet them.

When we read about the precision and discipline of cultures like Japan’s—where trains famously run on time to the second—we feel a pang of inspiration. Yet that feeling, like a brief shiver, often fades without changing our habits.

As a nation, we have a long way to go in mastering the art of time. Whether in politics, business, or daily life, we must become more sensitive to others' hours and minutes. If we set a time, we should honour it. We can no longer hide behind the evergreen excuse of “traffic.” Traffic may be beyond our control, but leaving early is not.

Respecting time isn't just about schedules—it’s about respect. It signals discipline, reliability, and a fundamental regard for other people’s lives.

Let’s begin today. Value not only your own time, but that of everyone around you. In doing so, we don’t just become more efficient—we become more considerate, more professional, and more humane.

M.L.Narendra Kumar

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