those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay

proverb

One should take immediate advantage of an opportunity that may not be available later.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. archaicOne should take immediate advantage of an opportunity that may not be available later.

Origin

Apparently originated in a song.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/those%20who%20will%20not%20when%20they%20may%2C%20when%20they%20will%20they%20shall%20have%20nay

MLA

“those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/those%20who%20will%20not%20when%20they%20may%2C%20when%20they%20will%20they%20shall%20have%20nay. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/those%20who%20will%20not%20when%20they%20may%2C%20when%20they%20will%20they%20shall%20have%20nay.

Source: those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.