--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Delay is the deadliest form of denial." description: "\"Delay is the deadliest form of denial.\" — C. Northcote Parkinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/c-northcote-parkinson-16739_delay_delay-is-the-deadliest-form-of-denial-28_2817230.jpg" --- # Delay is the deadliest form of denial. ![“Delay is the deadliest form of denial.” quote by C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/c-northcote-parkinson-16739_delay_delay-is-the-deadliest-form-of-denial-28_2817230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/c-northcote-parkinson-16739_delay_delay-is-the-deadliest-form-of-denial-28_2817230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/624/c-northcote-parkinson-16739_delay_delay-is-the-deadliest-form-of-denial-28_2817230.jpg) > “Delay is the deadliest form of denial.” [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Delaying action is a subtle yet deadly form of denial. **In simple terms:** Procrastination hides problems and harms. Key Takeaway Act promptly instead of postponing. Themes procrastination denial productivity Mood urgent reflective Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - project planning - personal deadlines - accountability systems Key Concepts time management psychological avoidance Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly need immediate attention? - How can you differentiate necessary pause from denial? A Different Perspective Delay can sometimes be strategic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) ## Related quotes > [I suppose it's a very highly developed form of denial, but some part of me completely denies that I'm a performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-suppose-it-s-a-very-highly-developed-form-of-denial-but-some-part/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [“For myself the delay may be compared with a reprieve; for in confidence I assure you, with the world it would obtain little credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/for-myself-the-delay-may-be-compared-with-a-reprieve-for-in/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Time wears all his locks before,Take thy hold upon his forehead;When he flies he turns no more,And behind his scalp is naked.Works adjourn'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southwell/time-wears-all-his-locks-before-take-thy-hold-upon-his-forehead-when/) [Robert Southwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southwell/) > [Life admits not of delays; when pleasure can be had, it is fit to catch it. Every hour takes away part of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/life-admits-not-of-delays-when-pleasure-can-be-had-it-is-fit-to-catch/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. Delay may give clearer light as to what is best to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-burr/never-do-today-what-you-can-put-off-till-tomorrow-delay-may-give/) [Aaron Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-burr/) > [Delays are as much a part of God plan as answered prayers. God wants you to trust him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/delays-are-as-much-a-part-of-god-plan-as-answered-prayers-god-wants/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Face troubles from their birth, for 'tis too late to cure When long delay has given the evil strength. Haste then; postpone not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/face-troubles-from-their-birth-for-tis-too-late-to-cure-when-long/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ When a man's life is at stake no delay is too long. \[Lat., Nulla unquam de morte cunctatio longa est.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/when-a-man-s-life-is-at-stake-no-delay-is-too-long-lat-nulla-unquam/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A delay does not solve the revenue problem,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-nickels/a-delay-does-not-solve-the-revenue-problem/) [Greg Nickels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-nickels/) > [I think FB should have a '5 second delay' after hitting ENTER; giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janie-ortiz/i-think-fb-should-have-a-5-second-delay-after-hitting-enter-giving/) Janie Ortiz > [“Delay is never denial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/delay-is-never-denial/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/circumstances-may-cause-interruptions-and-delays-but-never-lose-sight/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More by C. Northcote Parkinson > [In the foundation and development of a successful enterprise there must be a single-minded pursuit of financial profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/in-the-foundation-and-development-of-a-successful-enterprise-there/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [The mind reels at the multiplication of books intended to justify the author's promotion from assistant to associate professor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/the-mind-reels-at-the-multiplication-of-books-intended-to-justify-the/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Parkinson's First Law: Work expands to fill the time available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/parkinson-s-first-law-work-expands-to-fill-the-time-available/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Expenditures rise to meet income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/expenditures-rise-to-meet-income/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Time spent on any item of the agenda will be in inverse proportion to the sum involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/time-spent-on-any-item-of-the-agenda-will-be-in-inverse-proportion-to/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [It is the busiest man who has time to spare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/it-is-the-busiest-man-who-has-time-to-spare/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [It is now well known, however, that men enter local politics solely as a result of being unhappily married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/it-is-now-well-known-however-that-men-enter-local-politics-solely-as/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Administrators make work for each other so that they can multiply the number of their subordinates and enhance their prestige.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/administrators-make-work-for-each-other-so-that-they-can-multiply-the/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [People of great ability do not emerge, as a rule, from the happiest background. So far as my own observation goes, I would conclude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/people-of-great-ability-do-not-emerge-as-a-rule-from-the-happiest/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [No king or minister could have instructed Newton to discover the law of gravity, for they did not know and could not know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/no-king-or-minister-could-have-instructed-newton-to-discover-the-law/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [A committee grows organically, flourishes and blossoms, sunlit on top and shady beneath, until it dies, scattering the seeds from which other committees will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/a-committee-grows-organically-flourishes-and-blossoms-sunlit-on-top/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Deliberative bodies become decreasingly effective after they pass five to eight members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/deliberative-bodies-become-decreasingly-effective-after-they-pass/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Perfection of planned layout is achieved only by institutions on the point of collapse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/perfection-of-planned-layout-is-achieved-only-by-institutions-on-the/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Parkinson's Law is a purely scientific discovery, inapplicable except in theory to the politics of the day. It is not the business of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/parkinson-s-law-is-a-purely-scientific-discovery-inapplicable-except/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/work-expands-so-as-to-fill-the-time-available-for-its-completion/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) [Explore all 39 C. Northcote Parkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) ## More Delay quotes > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Delay always heeds danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/delay-always-heeds-danger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The measured blood beats out the year's delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/the-measured-blood-beats-out-the-year-s-delay/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [Right is the eternal sun; the world cannot delay its coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/right-is-the-eternal-sun-the-world-cannot-delay-its-coming/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/circumstances-may-cause-interruptions-and-delays-but-never-lose-sight/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Systems program building is an entropy-decreasing process, hence inherently metastable. Program maintenance is an entropy-increasing process, and even its most skillful execution only delays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/systems-program-building-is-an-entropy-decreasing-process-hence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Everyone I have spoken with so far recognises the need for the IRA to respond positively and every has said sooner is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/everyone-i-have-spoken-with-so-far-recognises-the-need-for-the-ira-to/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [If the politics of inaction and delay that have triumphed in this country continues for another decade, then Planetary Purgatory in the likely future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/if-the-politics-of-inaction-and-delay-that-have-triumphed-in-this/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [“Delay is never denial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/delay-is-never-denial/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We are being conditioned, as a population, to never wait, to never delay our gratification, to accept thoughtless, constant consumption as the new norm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-wortham/we-are-being-conditioned-as-a-population-to-never-wait-to-never-delay/) [Jenna Wortham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-wortham/) Browse all 636 Delay quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Delay is the deadliest form of denial.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. 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