--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Procrastination is the thief of time…" description: "\"Procrastination is the thief of time; year after year it steals, till all are fled, and to the mercies of a moment leaves the vast concerns of an etern..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/edward-young-1446_concern_procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-yea_577509.jpg" --- # Procrastination is the thief of time; year after year it… ![“Procrastination is the thief of time; year after year it steals, till all are fled, and to the mercies of a moment leaves the vast concerns of an eternal state. At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; knows it at forty, and reforms his plan; at fifty chides his infamous delay, pushes his prudent…” quote by Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/edward-young-1446_concern_procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-yea_577509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/edward-young-1446_concern_procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-yea_577509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/edward-young-1446_concern_procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-yea_577509.jpg) > “Procrastination is the thief of time; year after year it steals, till all are fled, and to the mercies of a moment leaves the vast concerns of an eternal state. At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; knows it at forty, and reforms his plan; at fifty chides his infamous delay, pushes his prudent purpose to resolve; in all the magnanimity of thought, resolves, and re-resolves, then dies the same.” [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Procrastination steals time, leading to regret and missed opportunities throughout life. **In simple terms:** Delaying steals time and causes regret. Key Takeaway Act now, avoid future regret. Themes time regret productivity Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - academic work - personal goals Key Concepts temporal loss self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What tasks are you avoiding and why? - How can you break the cycle? A Different Perspective Procrastination can also be a symptom of deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Magnanimity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnanimity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled, And to the mercies of a moment leaves The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till-3/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-collar-him/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“My advice is, never do to-morrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/my-advice-is-never-do-to-morrow-what-you-can-do-today-procrastination/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/my-advice-is-to-never-do-tomorrow-what-you-can-do-today/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Do not procrastinate. Someone has said that procrastination is the thief of time. Actually, procrastination is much more. It is the thief of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/do-not-procrastinate-someone-has-said-that-procrastination-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/my-advice-is-never-do-tomorrow-what-you-can-do-today-procrastination/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Procrastination is the thief of dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-dreams/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Britannia's shame! There took her gloomy flight, On wing impetuous, a black sullen soul . Less base the fear of death than fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/britannia-s-shame-there-took-her-gloomy-flight-on-wing-impetuous-a/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“Sloth is the thief of time. The character defect of putting off actions “until things get better” is one of the most destructive detours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-p/sloth-is-the-thief-of-time-the-character-defect-of-putting-off/) [Bill P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-p/) > [Economy is the thief of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-mumford/economy-is-the-thief-of-time/) [Ethel Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-mumford/) > [Procastination is the thief of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakhe/procastination-is-the-thief-of-time/) Bakhe > [A procrastinator is a thief of his or her own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhoon-goo-rhee/a-procrastinator-is-a-thief-of-his-or-her-own-time/) Jhoon Goo Rhee > [“I could flee to the heath. Show them that they cannot keep me locked up, that I am a thief of time and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-could-flee-to-the-heath-show-them-that-they-cannot-keep-me-locked/) [Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/) ## More by Edward Young > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The spirit walks of every day deceased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-spirit-walks-of-every-day-deceased/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Tomorrow is a satire on today, And shows its weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/tomorrow-is-a-satire-on-today-and-shows-its-weakness/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [ \[The\] public path of life Is dirty. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-public-path-of-life-is-dirty/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Too low they build who build below the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/too-low-they-build-who-build-below-the-skies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britannia's shame! There took her gloomy flight, On wing impetuous, a black sullen soul . Less base the fear of death than fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/britannia-s-shame-there-took-her-gloomy-flight-on-wing-impetuous-a/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileg'd beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-chamber-where-the-good-man-meets-his-fate-is-privileg-d-beyond/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Some go to Church, proud humbly to repent, And come back much more guilty than they went: One way they look, another way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/some-go-to-church-proud-humbly-to-repent-and-come-back-much-more/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He that is ungrateful has no guilt but one; all other crimes may pass for virtues in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-that-is-ungrateful-has-no-guilt-but-one-all-other-crimes-may-pass/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank, and puts her trust in miracles for safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-maid-that-loves-goes-out-to-sea-upon-a-shattered-plank-and-puts/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) [Explore all 238 Edward Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. 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I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. 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They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. 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