Is not he imprudent, who, seeing the tide making toward him apace, will sleep till the sea overwhelms him?
—John Tillotson
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
This is a world of action, and not for moping and droning in.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
The most important thing about getting somewhere is starting right where we are.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
If deeds are wanting, all words appear mere vanity and emptiness.
—Greek Proverb
Never put off till tomorrow that which you can do today.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
What may be done at any time will be done at no time.
—Scottish Proverb
He who prorogues the honesty of today till tomorrow, will probably prorogue his tomorrows to eternity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Above all, try something.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
If you don’t place your foot on the rope, you’ll never cross the chasm.
—Unknown
Today’s greatest labor-saving device is tomorrow.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Don’t say you don’t have enough time.
You have exactly the same number of hours per day
that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur,
Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci,
Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
The keen spirit seizes the prompt occasion; makes the thought start into instant action, and at once plans and performs, resolves, and executes!
—Hannah More
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
Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying, as if vainly attempting to overtake time that had been lost.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
All delay is helpful, but it does produce wisdom.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
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
Life, as it is called, is for most of us one long postponement.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
What you theoretically know, vividly realize.
—Francis Thompson (1859–1907) English Poet, Ascetic
Indulge in procrastination, and in time you will come to this, that because a thing ought to be done, therefore you can’t do it.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
If you miss the first buttonhole, you will not succeed in buttoning up your coat.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Stagnation is something worse than death: it is corruption also.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
The end of man is action.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
He who awaits much can expect little.
—Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927–2014) Colombian Novelist, Short-Story Writer
If you are not ready today, you will be even less so tomorrow.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Things don’t turn up in this world until somebody turns them up.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
There is nothing so fatal to character as half-finished tasks.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
The man who procrastinates struggles with ruin.
—Hesiod (f.700 BCE) Greek Poet