APAD: Better three hours too soon than a minute too late

"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late" is a quote from Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Act 2, Scene 2), spoken by Master Ford.

The proverb emphasizes that excessive early preparation or arriving far ahead of schedule is preferable to missing a deadline or being even slightly late. It values punctuality and the avoidance of consequences that come from tardiness over the inconvenience or perceived waste of being overly early.

It also means that procrastination or tardiness can cause irreversible consequences or missed opportunities, whereas being prepared reduces anxiety and shows respect for time.

- From online with editing
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The wise words from the Bard of Avon remind me of an important matter: income tax return filing!!!

As the in-house "accountant", it's my job to file tax returns for everyone in the family.  Born liking numbers, I don't mind doing them and even did some volunteer work to help others filling their returns.  

But after stopping paper filing and starting to use software 4 years ago, I feel a sense of dread to do them for some reason. Maybe because the numbers on paper looked more perfect as they were calculated by myself? 什么 

So I have been very late in filing them for the last two years, and nearly missed the April 30th deadline last year.

This year, I shall listen to the Bard: "better three hours too soon than a minute too late". 加油

But, just for fun, if you are going to a dinner party in NA, it will be better 10 minutes late than 3 hours too soon. 小声点

Cheers!

Funny Pic:  the champion for being late goes to ... ... never show up 呵呵

 

所有跟帖: 

Avidly practiced where I came from. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 10:16:54

Same 4 me. Early bird catches the worm is universal wisdom. -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 11:13:44

Just death & taxes r hated by almost everyone, unless 1 gets -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 11:15:32

money back from the CRA/IRS ;-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 11:17:01

rather be silly but having the best laugh -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 12:17:05

Shake hands! I'm pretty silly & also like to laugh, so birds -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 12:20:53

of a feather :-) Thx! + but think again, U & 7G are too -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 12:21:26

intelligent & cool to be silly ~~. -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 12:36:27

I used to file in paper too, not any more:) Understand you! -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 15:09:08

Shake hands 2! ;-)) Just had a few neighbours in house 4 -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 17:01:04

coffee/tea/dessert, they all use tax accountant ($400+/each) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/21/2026 postreply 17:03:34

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