Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.有花堪折直须折。
这条谚语来自十七世纪英国诗人Robert Herrick的诗句:
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a flying.
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.
诗中虽然是用花比喻少女,实际上已引申到要抓住一切宝贵的机会。表示这一意思的谚语还有:
Opportunity seldom knocks twice.
机会很少第二次光临。
He who hesitates is lost.
犹豫不决就会失去机会。
中国谚语也有所谓“机不可失,时不再来”。还有一句俗语“今朝有酒今朝醉”,意思也相似,不过有一点消极情绪。
可另参阅Strike while the iron is hot.