life is too short

Idioms

Do not waste time on unimportant matters or unworthy emotions, such as anger or anxiety. For example, I could get my revenge by snubbing Tom, but life's too short, or Don't spend all day waiting for his call—life is too short. This phrase, possibly echoing the ancient Latin proverb, Ars longa, vita brevis (“Art is long-lasting, life is short”), is often used to dismiss an unimportant or unworthy concern. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

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life is too short

I think life is too short to waste on bad books.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Bailey later told Entertainment Tonight: "I believe in being able to show the love in all different ways and if you can't kiss your friends... life is too short not to."

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025

My connection to Spain is more recent: I moved to Mallorca last year after deciding that life is too short not to live on a Mediterranean island.

From New York Times ● May 8, 2023

The old saying is that life is too short to bet the under, but it’s often the wise play.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 13, 2023

He knows life is too short to sweet to spend behind bars ever again.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023