Punctuality is a necessary habit in all public affairs in civilized society.Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in state of chaos.Only in a sparsely-populated rural community is it possible to disregard it.In ordinary living, there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality.The intellectual, who is working on some abstruse problem, has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand.He is therefore forgiven if late for a dinner party.But people are often reproached for unpunctuality when their only fault is cutting things fine.It is hard for energetic, quick-minded people to waste time,so they are often tempted to finish a job before setting out to keep an appointment.If no accidents occur on the way, like punctured tyres, diversions of traffic, sudden descent of fog, they will be on time.They are often more industrious, useful citizens than those who are never late.The over-punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual.The guest who arrives half an hour too soon is the greatest nuisance.Some friends of my family had this irritating habit.The only thing to do was ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests.
