In delay there lies no plenty.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We all sorely complain of the shortness of time, and yet have much more than we know what to do with. Our lives are either spent in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end of them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Boast not of what thou would’st have done, but do.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. You may enjoy doing it so much that you want to do it again.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Men expect too much, do too little.
—Allen Tate (1899–1979) American Poet, Essayist
The sooner I fall behind, the more time I have to catch up.
—Anonymous
The truth is that we live out our lives putting off all that can be put off; perhaps we all know deep down that we are immortal and that sooner or later all men will do and know all things.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
The most important thing about getting somewhere is starting right where we are.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
—Chinese Proverb
If we really want to live, we’d better start at once to try.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
Beginnings are apt to be shadowy and so it is the beginnings of the great mother life, the sea.
—Rachel Carson (1907–64) American Naturalist, Science Writer
I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never’.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
He who waits upon fortune is never sure of dinner.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Procrastination says, “The next advantage we will take thoroughly.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Don’t fool yourself that important things can be put off till tomorrow; they can be put off forever, or not at all.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
The best way to get something done is to begin.
—Unknown
Delay is the deadliest form of denial.
—C. Northcote Parkinson (1909–93) British Historian, Author
He that is overcautious will accomplish but very little.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Avoid delays: procrastination always does harm.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Poet
Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
—Unknown
Nothing is more expensive than penuriousness, nothing more anxious than carelessness, and every duty which is bidden to wait returns with seven fresh duties at its back.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Defer no time; delays have dangerous ends.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
We pass our life in deliberation, and we die upon it.
—Pasquier Quesnel (1634–1719) French Jansenist Theologian
Tomorrow! It is a period nowhere to be found in all the hoary registers of time, unless, perchance, in the fool’s calendar.—Wisdom disclaims the word, nor holds society with those who own it.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
He who awaits much can expect little.
—Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927–2014) Colombian Novelist, Short-Story Writer
The man who procrastinates struggles with ruin.
—Hesiod (f.700 BCE) Greek Poet
A lobster, when left high and dry among the rock, does not have the sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
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