Procrastination Has Nothing to Do with Self-Control
This whole thing about character flaws and self control reminded me of the following passage from Raymond Smullyan&#x27;s &quot;This Book Needs No Title&quot;:<p><i>I know one woman who smokes. She says: “It’s not that I have to smoke; I choose to. I could easily give it up any time I wish to, but I see no reason why I should. But I can assure you, I could if I wanted to.” Her husband says to her: “That&#x27;s only a rationalization! You couldn’t give up smoking even if you wanted to. You are not strong enough to give it up; you have to smoke. So to make yourself feel better, and to avoid having to confess your own weakness of character, you fool yourself into believing that you choose to. But it’s only a rationalization!” I know another woman who smokes. She says: “It’s not that I want to smoke; I can’t help myself! I have tried several times giving it up, but I have failed! I&#x27;m afraid I just don’t have a very strong character. I would love to stop, but I simply can’t.” Her husband says to her: “That&#x27;s only a rationalization! You certainly could stop immediately, if you really wanted to. No, you choose to smoke (after all, nobody is making you) and you feel ashamed and guilty for doing that which you know to be harmful. So to avoid any moral responsibility for your acts, you fool yourself into believing that you ‘can’t help it. But this is only a rationalization.” 
My only question about all this is: “Why are people so incredibly stupid?”</i><p>Pity he didn&#x27;t expand on the last line, but I think deep introspection is required to understand what is really under our control