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“All good things must come to an end”: meaning, origin and examples

All good things must come to an end

What it means

The phrase means that no matter how enjoyable, positive, or successful something is, it cannot last forever and will eventually come to a conclusion.

Tone Bittersweet and reflective

Where it comes from

The phrase is believed to have originated in the 14th century and is attributed to the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer in Troilus and Criseyde. It evolved over time into the modern form.

Examples

  • The vacation was amazing, but all good things must come to an end.
  • They had a wonderful time at the party, but all good things must come to an end.
  • I didn’t want the concert to be over, but all good things must come to an end eventually.

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