- Meaning
- This idiom emphasizes that significant achievements, progress, or complex tasks require time, patience, and gradual effort, using the historical example of Rome’s long construction to illustrate the need for perseverance. It conveys the value of steady work over instant results, often used in motivational, professional, or personal contexts to encourage persistence or temper expectations for quick success. The phrase carries a tone of wisdom, reassurance, or gentle correction, reflecting cultural appreciation for diligence and the human tendency to seek rapid outcomes. It resonates in endeavors requiring long-term commitment, capturing the reality of incremental progress, and its historical imagery adds a layer of timeless gravitas, evoking Rome’s enduring legacy. The idiom often serves to inspire patience or resilience, making it a classic metaphor for the journey toward greatness.
- Origin
- The phrase has roots in medieval Europe, with a precursor in the 12th-century French proverb ‘Rome ne fu pas faite en un jour,’ attributed to cleric Alain de Lille’s *Liber Parabolarum*. Its English form emerged in the 16th century, with an early use in John Heywood’s 1546 *Proverbs*: ‘Rome was not built in one day.’ The idiom gained traction in Renaissance England, reflecting admiration for Rome’s classical legacy, as seen in William Shakespeare’s *Coriolanus* (1608), which references Roman endurance. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in educational and moral contexts, with Charles Dickens’ *David Copperfield* (1850) emphasizing gradual effort. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through education and media, notably in self-help literature and *The New York Times* columns on progress. Its spread to Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking Rome’s slow rise, and its applicability to patience ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from classrooms to motivational speeches.
- Variants
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- Rome wasn’t built in a day
- Rome wasn’t built in one day
- Rome took time to build
- Not built in a day
- Examples
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- Rome wasn’t built in a day—keep practicing, and you’ll master the skill.
- Rome wasn’t built in one day, so don’t expect the startup to succeed overnight.
- Rome took time to build, just like your career will take years to peak.
- Not built in a day, this project needs months of careful work.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day, she reminded herself, tackling the renovation slowly.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day—be patient with your fitness journey.
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