The great thing in life is efficiency. If you amount to anything in the world, your time is valuable, your energy precious. They are your success capital, and you cannot afford to heedlessly throw them away or trifle with them.

Orison Swett Marden’s quote, “The great thing in life is efficiency. If you amount to anything in the world, your time is valuable, your energy precious. They are your success capital, and you cannot afford to heedlessly throw them away or trifle with them,” emphasizes the importance of using one’s resources—particularly time and energy—wisely. Marden suggests that for anyone who wants to achieve success, managing these two resources efficiently is crucial. Efficiency allows individuals to maximize their potential and accomplish more with the limited resources they have.

The phrase "success capital" is a metaphor for the valuable and limited nature of time and energy. Marden is highlighting that both time and energy are finite resources that must be carefully managed. By considering time and energy as capital—similar to financial resources—Marden suggests that they should be invested wisely, and any waste of these resources is akin to losing money in a business venture. In this context, efficiency becomes the method through which individuals can maximize their potential and output while minimizing wasted effort.

The quote also reflects Marden’s belief in personal responsibility and self-discipline. By recognizing the value of time and energy, individuals can avoid distractions, procrastination, and inefficiency, ensuring that every action taken contributes to their overall goals. Marden encourages people to be mindful of how they spend their time, as it directly influences their ability to succeed in any area of life, whether career, personal growth, or relationships.

The origin of the quote comes from Orison Swett Marden, an American writer and founder of Success Magazine. Marden was known for his motivational and self-help writings, where he focused on the importance of personal development, efficiency, and the cultivation of a success-oriented mindset. His teachings centered around the idea that individuals must take responsibility for their actions and use their time and resources wisely to achieve lasting success. This quote reflects Marden's emphasis on practical and efficient living as a pathway to achievement.