"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin"
About this Quote
The intent is motivational, yes, but also managerial. Calling procrastination an “assassin” externalizes the enemy, turning inner hesitation into a threat that can be confronted. It’s a neat psychological trick: you’re not merely “putting it off,” you’re letting something stalk your future. That urgency mirrors late-20th-century corporate culture, where speed, decisiveness, and first-mover advantage were elevated into virtues, sometimes at the expense of reflection.
The subtext is a quiet defense of action over perfection. Opportunity, in Kiam’s world, is fickle: a window that closes, a deal that goes to someone bolder, a product launch that misses the moment. The line also flatters the listener’s agency. If opportunity can be murdered, it must have been yours to begin with. That’s the appeal: a harsh metaphor that still offers control, as long as you move before hesitation pulls the trigger.
Quote Details
| Topic | Self-Discipline |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Kiam, Victor. (2026, January 16). Procrastination is opportunity's assassin. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/procrastination-is-opportunitys-assassin-118632/
Chicago Style
Kiam, Victor. "Procrastination is opportunity's assassin." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/procrastination-is-opportunitys-assassin-118632/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/procrastination-is-opportunitys-assassin-118632/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.












