time will tell

Cf. [Menander Monosticha 11] ἄγɛί δε ρρὸς ϕῷς ṯήν ἀλήθɛίαν χρόνος, time brings the truth to light.

Tempus omnia reuelat. Tyme discloseth all thynges.
[1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus' Adages 37]

Time reuealeth all things.
[1616 T. Draxe Adages 205]

Time only will shew how far those Informations have been well founded.
[1771 C. Stuart Letter 15 Apr. in Publications of Mississippi Hist. Society (1925) V. 50]

I will answer‥that she will speak as distinctly to music as you do in conversation—Time will show, madam.
[1863 C. Reade Hard Cash I. vi.]

The doctor had looked very grave‥and had said that time alone could tell.
[1913 E. H. Porter Pollyanna xxiii.]

‘I'm not‥bringing any charge.’‥‘Oh‥a bright idea, perhaps. Or perhaps not so bright.’ ‘Time will tell,’ the Superintendent retorted.
[1929 ‘J. J. Connington’ Eye in Museum xiv.]

‘But if you look at the general principles, it's a wonderful system,’ says Richard Mulligan‥‘Time will tell.’
[2002 New Scientist 30 Mar. 7]

Related to: future; time

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

Sooner or later something will become known or be revealed, as in I don't know whether or not they'll like the reconstruction; only time will tell. This proverbial phrase dates from the early 1500s.