Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.

The line frames procrastination not as a harmless habit but as a “disease,” emphasizing how delay can quietly compound into serious losses. Calling it both “common” and “deadly” highlights its deceptive normality: many people do it, which can make it feel acceptable, yet it steadily erodes outcomes. The “toll on success and happiness” links practical consequences (missed goals, diminished performance) with psychological ones (stress, regret, reduced well-being). As a motivational maxim, it urges urgency and disciplined action—treating procrastination as something to be actively resisted rather than indulged.