The best explanation I have ever heard for procrastination is this - it allows you to maintain an illusion that "you could do it, if you just tried." You do no

The best explanation I have ever heard for procrastination is this - it allows you to maintain an illusion that "you could do it, if you just tried." You do no work, you don't risk your self image. When you try in earnest, you spend a lot of effort, all for the potential reward of "All your effort isn't good enough, you are a proven failure." I am not saying that this doesn't conflict with "It is the mean in the arena...who dared greatly...", but it makes perfect sense to me.