Value of Punctuality

Proper consideration of the value of time will inspire the habit of punctuality. Punctuality is the politeness of kings, the duty of gentlemen, and the necessity of businessmen. Nothing begets confidence in men sooner than the practice of the virtue, and nothing shakes confidence sooner than the want of it. He who holds to his appointment and does not keep you waiting for him shows that he has regard for your time as well as his own. This punctuality is one of the ways in which we show our personal respect for those whom we are called upon to meet in the business of life. It is also conscientiousness in a measure for an appointment is a contract, express or implied, and he who does not keep it is guilty of breaking faith, as well as of dishonestly using other people’s time. We, naturally, come to the conclusion that the person who is careless about time will be careless about business, and he is not a person to be trusted with the transaction of matters of importance. When Washington’s secretary excused himself for the lateness of his attendance and laid the blame on his watch, the master quietly said: “Then you must get another watch or I must get another secretary.”