ProverbPerseveranceEnglish origin1742

Procrastination is the thief of time.

Meaning: Delaying tasks gradually steals away your hours until nothing remains to complete them.

Who said it? Edward Young, Night Thoughts, 1742

Origin: From Edward Young's long poem Night Thoughts (1742): "Procrastination is the thief of time; / Year after year it steals, till all are fled." The poem was hugely popular for a century, and this line outlived the rest of it.

Explore another collection: Idioms

Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.

Browse all idioms →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →