Who said “How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth…”?

Verified

John Milton. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceOn His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three (1631)

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“How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth year!”
— John Milton
VerifiedOn His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three (1631) · evidenceAge and Aging

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three (1631).

APA

Milton, J. (n.d.). How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth year! [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5899-how-soon-hath-time-the-subtle-thief-of/

MLA

Milton, John. “How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth year!” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5899-how-soon-hath-time-the-subtle-thief-of/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Milton, John. “How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth year!” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5899-how-soon-hath-time-the-subtle-thief-of/.

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