phrases, sayings, proverbs and idioms at
Home button Home | Search the phrases.org.uk website Search | Phrase Dictionary | All things must pass

The meaning and origin of the expression: All things must pass

All things must pass

What's the meaning of the phrase 'All things must pass'?

Nothing lasts forever.

What's the origin of the phrase 'All things must pass'?

From the Bible, Matthew 24:6-8 (King James Version):

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.

George Harrison used the phrase for the title of his successful 1970 triple album. The graphics from the subsequent CD release convey the phrase's meaning.

All things must pass All things must pass All things must pass All things must pass

See also: the List of Proverbs.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Browse phrases beginning with:
 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T UV W XYZ Full List