“All things come to him who waits” was a popular proverb in the 19th century and is now popularly written as “good things come to those who wait.” “All things come to him who hustles while he waits” has been cited in print since at least 1893 and is often incorrectly credited to American inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931).
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things that are left by those who hustle” was cited in many newspapers in May 1955 and is of unknown authorship. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) has frequently been credited as the author since at least 1972, but there is no evidence that Lincoln ever said this.
Wiktionary: all things come to those who wait
Proverb
all things come to those who wait
1. (dated) A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.
Usage notes
This version of the proverb is now somewhat dated, the more common form today being good things come to those who wait (with good instead of all).
9 May 1955, Times Herald, (Carroll, IA), pg. 6, col. 4:
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things that are left by those who hustle.
10 May 1955, Anderson (IN) Daily Bulletin, “Barbs,” pg. 4, col. 4:
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things that are left by those who hustle.
27 January 1972, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), “Catch in ‘easy cash’ offer‎” by Jennifer Berry, pg. 2, col. 8:
The firm has as its motto a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
21 September 1977, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA), “On Bridge” by Ira G. Corn Jr., sec. 5, pg. 6, col. 2:
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
Abraham Lincoln
Google Books
Secrets of Life Every Teen Needs to Know
By Terry L. Paulson and Sean D. Paulson
San Juan Capistrano, CA: Joy Pub.
1990
Pg. 32:
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” Abraham Lincoln
Google Books
Word Savvy:
Use the Right Word Every Time, All The Time
By Nancy Ragno
Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books (F + W Media, Inc.)
2011
Pg. 100:
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.
—ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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