Rome, with it’s fine architecture, couldn’t be built in a day. Likewise,
important tasks call for a lot of hard work and take a long time to complete.
This proverb teaches patience and perseverance, but sometimes it is used as an
excuse for delay.

> ‘Haven’t you finished mowing the lawn yet?’ complained Mrs. Nagg. Her
husband mopped his brow with his handkerchief.

> ‘Give me time,’ he answered. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’

##### See also:

* Constant dripping wears away the stone
* If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again
* It’s dogged that does it
* Little by little and bit by bit
* Little strokes fell great oaks
* Slow but sure wins the race
* Where there’s a will there’s a way