"Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, Thats why it's called the Present" Who is that by

Question

"Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, Thats why it's called the Present"

this quote who is it by?

Additional Details

i dont care if you use it
i just want to know the author

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

The full quote often reads: "The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present."

In the 1902 book, "Sun Dials and Roses of Yesterday: Garden Delights..." by Alice Morse Earle, it is noted that the words "Time Waits for No Man" is a play on words or punning device of "gnomon" that has been used on sun dials. A gnomon is a pointer on a sun dial. Somewhere along the way came the full quote which has been truncated by some to your version.

http://books.google.com/books?id=puICAAA…

Many believe the phrase has its root in "Time and Tide wait for No Man," meaning no one is so powerful that he can stop the march of time.

According to "The Phrase Finder":

The origin is uncertain, although it's clear that the phrase is ancient and that it predates modern English. The earliest known record is from St. Marher, 1225:

"And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet."

A version in modern English -- "the tide abides for, tarrieth for no man, stays no man, tide nor time tarrieth no man" evolved into the present day version.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/38400…
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Nowhere is this sentiment more artfully expressed than in Emily Dickinson's poem #1292, "Yesterday is History."

Yesterday is History,
'tis so far away --
yesterday is Poetry,
'tis Philosophy --

Yesterday is Mystery --
Where it is today --
While we shrewdly speculate
Flutter both away

Answer 2

It is a quote I use often, but I have not been able to find the source. I will edit this answer if I can find the source.

EDIT I see that someone knew the answer ... excellent!

EDIT again: Where did the Joan Rivers answer go? It actually sounds like something she would have said.

Answer 3

Here's what I found....though I find it hard to believe that it originated with Ms. Rivers.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God's gift, that's why we call it the present.”
Joan Rivers

And I really like this one!

“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely”
Kay Lyons