Wiktionary
time and tide wait for no man
alt. action should be undertaken without delay. prov. action should be undertaken without delay.
Usage examples of "time and tide wait for no man".
And now, out of mere principle again, I stayed until Thursday for the Gover nors dinner - I am not blaming you, Stephen, not for a moment: though it is true that you can never be brought to understand that time and tide wait for no man - but when I think of all that double-reef topsail south-wester wasted, a wind that might have carried us as far as 112°.
This is an urgent business, as I said - I will telegraph Portsmouth and they will tell her to expect you back next month with a feather in your cap - but time and tide wait for no man, you know.
Below the clock was a sign which read TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN.