Charles Dickens on maximizing the New Year

My first post for the year is an excerpt from Charles Dickens 'David Copperfield'. It contains what has become a very popular maxim on procrastination - one of my greatest 'vices', and one that must be conquered this year.


'My dear young friend', said Micawber, 'I am older than you; a man of some experience in life, and - and of some experience, in short, in difficulties, generally speaking. At present, and until something turns up (which I am, I may say, hourly expecting), I have nothing to bestow but advice. Still my advice is so far worth taking that - in short, that I have never taken it myself, and am the' - here Mr Micawber, who had been beaming and smiling, all over his head and face, up to the present moment, checked himself and frowned - 'the miserable wretch you behold.'

...

'...My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!'

...

'My other piece of advice, Copperfield,' said Mr Micawber, 'you know. Annual income, twenty pounds; annual expenditure, nineteen ninety-six; result, happiness. Annual income, twenty pounds; annual expenditure, twenty pounds ought and six; result, misery. The blossom is blighted, the leaf is withered, the God of the day goes down upon the dreary scene, and - and, in short, you are for ever floored. As I am!'