Quote of the day by Lewis Carroll: 'Which form of proverb do you prefer, Better late than never, or...' - thought-provoking quote by Through the Looking-Glass author teaches inspiring life lessons on timing, making choices, missed opportunities and knowing when to start late is better than never

Quote of the day by Lewis Carroll: Not everything happens when we want it to. Some plans take longer, some decisions are delayed and some opportunities only make sense when we finally feel ready to take them. The question is what we do when we realize we are already late. English author and poet Lewis Carroll captured that dilemma with a short but clever question that challenges a saying many of us know well.

Quote of the Day Today: Lewis Carroll on Being Late

Lewis Carroll said, “Which form of proverb do you prefer, Better late than never, or Better never than late?” as per BrainyQuote.

What Does Lewis Carroll’s Quote Mean

Carroll takes two opposite versions of a familiar idea and puts them against each other.


“Better late than never” suggests that completing something eventually is better than abandoning it altogether. “Better never than late,” on the other hand, suggests that timing can sometimes matter more than simply getting something done.

Rather than choosing one side, Carroll leaves the question open for us to consider.

Life Lesson From Lewis Carroll’s Quote

The quote reminds us that there is no single answer to whether being late is better than never acting.

Sometimes, starting late can still be worthwhile. In other situations, waiting too long may mean the moment has passed.

Carroll’s question ultimately encourages us to think about our choices, our timing and whether something is still worth pursuing when we finally get around to it.

Who Was Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was an English logician, mathematician, photographer and novelist. Born on January 27, 1832, in Daresbury, Cheshire, he died on January 14, 1898, in Guildford, Surrey.

He is best known for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), Through the Looking-Glass (1871) and The Hunting of the Snark (1876).

Lewis Carroll’s Early Life

Dodgson was the eldest son and third child in a family of 11 children. He studied at Richmond School, Rugby School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he excelled in mathematics and classical studies. He later became a mathematics lecturer at Oxford, as per a Britannica report.

How Did Lewis Carroll Create Alice

Dodgson became friends with Alice Liddell and her sisters. During a 1862 boat trip on the Thames, he told them a story about Alice’s adventures. Alice asked him to write it down, leading to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in 1865 with illustrations by John Tenniel, as per the Britannica report.

Lewis Carroll’s Other Work

Dodgson used the name Lewis Carroll for his nonacademic writing. He also wrote mathematical works, poetry and humorous pamphlets and was a photographer before abandoning the hobby in 1880.

Later, he wrote Sylvie and Bruno (1889) and Sylvie and Bruno Concluded (1893).