Procrastination, the act of unnecessarily delaying our actions or decisions, is a common worldwide problem. You can find a comprehensive guide to procrastination and how to prevent it here.
Top 10 Powerful Quotes to Help You Stop Procrastination
#10. “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
- Pablo Picasso
#9. “Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether.”
- Epictetus
#8. “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.”
- Alexander Graham Bell
#7. “If I waited till I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.”
- Anne Tyler
#6. “During a very busy life I have often been asked, “How did you manage it all?” The
answer was simple. It is because I did everything promptly.”
- Richard Tangye
#5. “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off
living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon – instead of
enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows to day.”
- Dale Carnegie
#4. “Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on
success and happiness is heavy.”
- Wayne Gretzky
#3. “Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.”
- Christopher Parker
#2. “Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness,
no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”
- Philip Stanhope
#1. Best quote for overcoming procrastination
“The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination,
those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. They’re full of eagerness, zest,
productivity. You can be, too.”
- Norman Vincent Peale
Why are these quotes so powerful?
They are powerful because they are easy to understand and get to the core problems associated with procrastination.
Let’s take a closer look at these quotes and who wrote them.
#10. “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
Pablo Picasso – Painter, sculptor, and ceramicist that is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
We all know from experience that we sometimes put off things that we never complete. If you have goals, you should make tasks related to these goals then you are less likely to procrastinate and put off your tasks.
#9. “Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether.”
Epictetus – famous Greek philosopher born around AD 50.
Reinforcing what was said by Pablo Picasso, Epictetus notes that you should not put off anything that you could not abandon. Ask yourself, can you abandon the task? If not, don’t put it off. You can start doing it and continue the next day but start doing it.
#8. “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.”
Alexander Graham Bell – scientist, engineer, and inventor who is credited with creating the first practical telephone.
You may have heard that there is a fine line between success and failure. It is well documented that individuals that take action (that is, individuals who take the initiative to start) are more likely to be successful in life. For example, when I was a teenager, in general, the more I studied the more successful I was on my exam.
#7. “If I waited till I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.”
Anne Tyler - Author and literary critic. She has published twenty-three novels, including the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Breathing Lessons. She also won several other major awards for writing including the National Book Critics Circle Award which honors the finest books and reviews published in English.
Here we have one of the best writers in the world saying that she did not feel like writing most of the time. Anne did not wait to feel motivated to write, so next time you think you need to be motivated to do something, think again.
#6. “During a very busy life I have often been asked, “How did you manage it all?” The answer was simple. It is because I did everything promptly.”
Richard Tangye –Businessman and manufacturer of specialized engines and equipment in the late 1800s. Knighted by the queen of England in 1894.
People who have accomplished a lot are always asked how they managed everything. As Richard said, “It is because I did everything promptly.” Hence, less procrastination allows you to do more.
#5. “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon – instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows to day.”
Dale Carnegie – Writer and lecturer who was born in poverty but became world renowned for the numerous self-improvement courses he developed starting in 1912.
Many of us don’t take time to appreciate what we already have and put off enjoying life to sometime in the future. Putting off living is a type of procrastination. Simple things in life can be enjoyed on a regular basis. You don’t need to have lots of money to enjoy life now, you need to stop procrastinating, set goals for work and life so you can “work hard” and “play hard.” With less procrastination, you would have time every day to do more things you enjoy.
#4. “Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.”
Wayne Gretzky – Considered by many to be the most famous ice hockey player of all time. He was nicknamed “The Great One.”
Most chronic and moderate procrastinators are unhappy. The main reason for this is that productivity and happiness are related, and procrastinators are generally less productive. If you adopt the same thinking as Wayne and consider procrastination to be a disease, then you might be encouraged to stop the disease from spreading and reverse the disease.
#3. “Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.”
Christopher Parker – Actor, TV presenter, broadcaster, and suicide survivor.
It may seem like it is fun to procrastinate. On the day you procrastinate you have more time to be on social media, or watch TV, or hang out with friends for long hours, all lots of fun. When you are stressing a few days later, working for 6 hours straight, to get your assignment done in time, you are no longer having fun. What many don’t realize is that doing long hours of work at any one time on the same topic often results in a poorer quality project, high stress and anxiety levels in the individuals, and an increased likelihood of mistakes.
#2. “Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”
Philip Stanhope – Statesman, diplomat, and author of Letters to His Son and Letters to His Godson, which are guides to good manners and the art of worldly success.
Many people don’t know the true value of time. Time is something we cannot buy or ever get back. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. Why would your waste such a precious commodity as time? Think about when you are on your dying bed, would you wish for more money? Probably not, most people wish for more time. Use your time wisely.
#1. “The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. They’re full of eagerness, zest, productivity. You can be, too.”
Norman Vincent Peale – Author and minister who significantly helped the concept of positive thinking to become mainstream. His book, The Power of Positive Thinking, sold over 5 million copies.
Procrastination is like a disease; it prevents us from being as productive or happy as we can. When you significantly reduce your procrastination, you will be full of excitement and passion. What are you waiting for, break the “chains of procrastination.”
Now that you know some powerful quotes to help you reduce your procrastination, pick your favorite quote, print it out and put it on your wall to watch and inspire you every day. Don’t procrastinate, do it now. After a few weeks to months, use a different quote to help motivate you.
Written by Aldrin V. Gomes, PhD, FCVS, FAHA
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