Where did you go to, if I may ask? said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along. “To look ahead,” said he. “And what brought you back in the nick of time?” “Looking behind,” said he.
—J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) British Scholar, Author
A feeble man can see the farms that are fenced and tilled, the houses that are built. The strong man sees the possible houses and farms. His eye makes estates as fast as the sun breeds clouds.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A genius is one who shoots at something no one else can see—and hits it.
—Unknown
In conditions of great uncertainty people tend to predict the events that they want to happen actually will happen.
—Roberta Wohlstetter (1912–2007) American Military Policy Analyst
You can vitally influence your life from within by auto-suggestion. The first thing each morning, and the last thing each night, suggest to yourself specific ideas that you wish to embody in your character and personality. Address such suggestions to yourself, silently or aloud, until they are deeply impressed upon your mind.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
The artist doesn’t see things as they are, but as he is.
—Unknown
Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.
—Stevie Wonder (b.1950) American Singer, Songwriter
He who could foresee affairs three days in advance would be rich for thousands of years.
—Chinese Proverb
It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The only way to predict the future is to have power to shape the future.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The moment of enlightenment is when a person’s dreams of possibilities become images of probabilities.
—Vic Braden (b.1929) American Sportsperson, Author
Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
When there is no vision, a people perish.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The superior person gathers his weapons together in order to provide against the unforeseen.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
He robs present ills of their power who has perceived their coming beforehand.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
In life, as in chess, forethought wins.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
There is nothing certain except the unforeseen.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.
—John M. Richardson, Jr.
It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. He that is on a lee shore, and foresees a hurricane, stands out to sea and encounters a storm to avoid a shipwreck.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
If men could foresee the future, they would still behave as they do now.
—Russian Proverb
He, who foresees calamities, suffers them twice over.
—Beilby Porteus (1731–1809) Anglican Bishop of London
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.
—Chinese Proverb
Man can only receive what he sees himself receiving.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The most reliable way to anticipate the future is by understanding the present.
—John Naisbitt American Trend Analyst
He, who begins a conversation, does not foresee the end.
—African Proverb