We shall be better prepared for the future if we see how terrible, how doomed the present is.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
Labour not after riches first, and think thou afterwards wilt enjoy them. He who neglecteth the present moment, throweth away all that he hath. As the arrow passeth through the heart, while the warrior knew not that it was coming; so shall his life be taken away before he knoweth that he hath it.
—Akhenaten (1378BCE–1348BCE) Egyptian Monarch, Religious Leader
Banish the future. Live only for the hour and its allotted work. Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
We can easily manage, if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed for it.—But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow to the weight before we are required to bear it.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
The present is the living sum-total of the whole past.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
One realm we have never conquered: the pure present.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
There’s no present. There’s only the immediate future and the recent past.
—George Carlin (1937–2008) American Stand-up Comedian
To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
One today is worth two tomorrows; what I am to be, I am now becoming.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
True happiness is to understand our duties toward God and man; to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence on the future; not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears, but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is abundantly sufficient.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Present-moment living, getting in touch with your “now,” is at the heart of effective living. When you think about it, there really is no other moment you can live. Now is all there is, and the future is just another present moment to live when it arrives. One thing is certain, you cannot live it until it does appear.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
This time, like all times, is a very good one if we but know what to do with it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A man would do well to carry a pencil in his pocket and write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable, and should be secured, because they seldom return.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
In the nineteenth century the problem was that God is dead. In the twentieth century the problem is that man is dead.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
The past and present are only our means; the future is always our end. Thus we never really live, but only hope to live.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Work accomplished means little. It is in the past. What we all want is the glorious and living present.
—Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Today is a king in disguise.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
One cannot change the past, but one can ruin the present by worrying over the future.
—Unknown
Light tomorrow with today.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
Enjoy yourself, drink, call the life you live today your own—but only that; the rest belongs to chance.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can’t build on it; it’s only good for wallowing in.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The more I give myself permission to live in the moment and enjoy it without feeling guilty or judgmental about any other time, the better I feel about the quality of my work.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
The past is a bucket of ashes, so live not in your yesterdays, nor just for tomorrow, but in the here and now. Keep moving and forget the post-mortems. And remember, no one can get the jump on the future.
—Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American Biographer, Novelist, Socialist
‘Twere too absurd to slight for the hereafter, the day’s delight.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
Let us live today.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Now is the time to be doing, now is the time to be stirring, now is the time to amend myself.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer