Talk:procrastinate

.
Also pertinent is the myth about the giant Procrastes (or Procrastinus?) who 'fitted'the body of people staying as guest in his house for the night by either cutting of part of their arms and legs if they were too tall, or by stretching them till they died, if they were too short.

Procrastination has nothing to do with the myth of the giant (Procrustes, sometimes mistakenly called Procrastes) who made his houseguests fit his guest-bed by lopping or stretching them to size. The derivation is all about time: pro (for) + cras (tomorrow): leave it for tomorrow. Because that day never comes, procrastination may be either an infirm avoidance of tasks or a carefree avoidance; the more likely usage is the first, whereas the people that gave us the elements of the word may have been readier to decide that delay should be pleasing and carefree - "Pereat qui crastina curat": perish the man who cares about tomorrow! Richardralley (talk) 23:12, 11 August 2014 (UTC)