--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is an undoubted truth, that the less…" description: "\"It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. One yawns, one procrastinates, one can do it when one will,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/lord-chesterfield-757_can-do_it-is-an-undoubted-truth-that-the-less-o_436533.jpg" --- # It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the… ![“It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. One yawns, one procrastinates, one can do it when one will, and therefore one seldom does it at all.” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/lord-chesterfield-757_can-do_it-is-an-undoubted-truth-that-the-less-o_436533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/lord-chesterfield-757_can-do_it-is-an-undoubted-truth-that-the-less-o_436533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/lord-chesterfield-757_can-do_it-is-an-undoubted-truth-that-the-less-o_436533.jpg) > “It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. One yawns, one procrastinates, one can do it when one will, and therefore one seldom does it at all.” [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When tasks are few, we procrastinate, believing we’ll do them later, so we rarely accomplish anything. **In simple terms:** Less work leads to more procrastination and less achievement. Key Takeaway Create structure and deadlines to combat procrastination. Themes procrastination time management motivation discipline productivity Mood determined encouraging Type practical motivational When to use this quote - studying - project planning - daily chores - goal setting Key Concepts behavioral economics self‑control habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What small task can you schedule now? - How do you resist the urge to delay? A Different Perspective May ignore that some tasks truly require less effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The man who procrastinates is always struggling with misfortunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-man-who-procrastinates-is-always-struggling-with-misfortunes/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The man who procrastinates struggles with ruin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-man-who-procrastinates-struggles-with-ruin/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [With the notebook resting ominuslously on Janie's bed, Janie procrastinates. Does her homework first. And pours herself a bowl of ceral. Breakfast - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/with-the-notebook-resting-ominuslously-on-janie-s-bed-janie/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) > [No, I'm not very productive at all. I'm probably like an animal. I mean, great animals in the ocean feed all the time. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/no-i-m-not-very-productive-at-all-i-m-probably-like-an-animal-i-mean/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“Telling someone who procrastinates to buy a weekly planner is like telling someone with chronic depression to just cheer up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-r-ferrari/telling-someone-who-procrastinates-to-buy-a-weekly-planner-is-like/) Joseph R. Ferrari > [“Everyone procrastinates. The difference between high performers and low performers is largely determined by what they choose to procrastinate on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/everyone-procrastinates-the-difference-between-high-performers-and-2/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“He who procrastinates will light the long fuse of dynamite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-rogers/he-who-procrastinates-will-light-the-long-fuse-of-dynamite/) Geoff Rogers > [He is an old bore. Even the grave yawns for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-beerbohm-tree/he-is-an-old-bore-even-the-grave-yawns-for-him/) [Herbert Beerbohm Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-beerbohm-tree/) > [There is no wider gulf in the universe than yawns between those on the hither and thither side of vital experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-is-no-wider-gulf-in-the-universe-than-yawns-between-those-on/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Leave your yawns behind you and feel the tiny new breeze of life lighting up inside of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-porchon-lynch/leave-your-yawns-behind-you-and-feel-the-tiny-new-breeze-of-life/) [Tao Porchon-Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-porchon-lynch/) > [“She yawns for men and not with her mouth. She weeps for men and not with her eyes. She drinks men down, she is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keneally/she-yawns-for-men-and-not-with-her-mouth-she-weeps-for-men-and-not/) [Thomas Keneally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keneally/) > [“I own a few yawns that I rent out to people who are tired of the sleazy snooze salesman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-own-a-few-yawns-that-i-rent-out-to-people-who-are-tired-of-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“What time is it?" Brad stretches, arms still around my waist; and yawns, his breath is blowing in my face. I grimace. He really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jc-emery/what-time-is-it-brad-stretches-arms-still-around-my-waist-and-yawns/) JC Emery > [“He does not listen for an answer, but yawns, his face opening lewdly upon regions compared with which nudity becomes a milliner's invention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/he-does-not-listen-for-an-answer-but-yawns-his-face-opening-lewdly/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [“This bed yawns beneath the weight of our absent selves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/this-bed-yawns-beneath-the-weight-of-our-absent-selves/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by Lord Chesterfield > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I am in the pitiable situation of feeling all the force of temptation without having the strength to succumb to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/i-am-in-the-pitiable-situation-of-feeling-all-the-force-of-temptation/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/mankind-is-made-up-of-inconsistencies-and-no-man-acts-invariably-up/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/secret-thoughts-and-an-open-countenance-will-take-you-safely-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/virtue-and-learning-like-gold-have-their-intrinsic-value-but-if-they/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/knowledge-is-a-comfortable-and-necessary-retreat-and-shelter-for-us/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Promptness is the soul of business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/promptness-is-the-soul-of-business/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Style is the dress of thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/style-is-the-dress-of-thoughts/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/there-is-hardly-any-place-or-any-company-where-you-may-not-gain/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Assurance and intrepidity, under the white banner of seeming modesty, clear the way for merit, that would otherwise be discouraged by difficulties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/assurance-and-intrepidity-under-the-white-banner-of-seeming-modesty/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/many-a-man-would-rather-you-heard-his-story-than-grant-his-request/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) [Explore all 378 Lord Chesterfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. 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