A general of the Later Tang dynasty advised his commander: "Opportunity must not be lost. Time will not come again."
The phrase "机不可失时不再来" (opportunity must not be lost; time will not come again) is the Chinese expression for the urgency of seizing the moment. The window opens once. If you hesitate, it closes — and it will not reopen.
机不可失，时不再来。
机不可失，时不再来。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
The river flows in one direction. The wind blows once. The moment arrives and passes. The one who hesitates watches it go.
This proverb is the Chinese equivalent of "strike while the iron is hot" — but with a sharper edge. The iron will cool and can be reheated; the moment, once passed, is gone forever. This is not about being reckless — it about being ready when the window opens.
In Chinese strategic thought, timing (时机) is the most critical factor. The same action taken at the right moment succeeds; taken at the wrong moment, it fails. The strategist's job is not just to plan — it to watch for the moment when the plan can be executed.