--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But…" description: "\"Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now, does always last.\" — Abraham Cowley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png" --- # Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now… ![“Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now, does always last.” quote by Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png) > “Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now, does always last.” [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is an endless present, with no past or future, only an eternal now. **In simple terms:** All is present, no past or future. Key Takeaway Embrace the present moment. Themes philosophy time existence mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - creative writing - philosophical discussion - mindful walking Key Concepts eternal now temporal illusion consciousness Questions to Reflect On - How does this perspective influence decision making? - Can we balance present focus with future goals? A Different Perspective The view may ignore practical need for planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is there to come, and nothing past, But an eternal Now does always last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/nothing-is-there-to-come-and-nothing-past-but-an-eternal-now-does/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [I don't believe necessarily the past is in the past. It's eternal, it's all around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-don-t-believe-necessarily-the-past-is-in-the-past-it-s-eternal-it-s/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [In my view you can't go to the future if you haven't come from the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/in-my-view-you-can-t-go-to-the-future-if-you-haven-t-come-from-the/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [Reincarnation is not what a lot of people think. Yes, we are eternal. No, everyone does not attain enlightenment; it's not necessary; life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/reincarnation-is-not-what-a-lot-of-people-think-yes-we-are-eternal-no/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The will of God is eternal because He does not begin to will what He did not will before, nor cease to will what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-will-of-god-is-eternal-because-he-does-not-begin-to-will-what-he/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-why-the-universe-is-eternal-is-that-it-does-not-live-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reason why love is eternal is that it does not exist for itself, but gives life to those it transforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-fry/the-reason-why-love-is-eternal-is-that-it-does-not-exist-for-itself/) [Jeffrey Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-fry/) > [Russia does not have a modern economy: it's a petro-power. The only thing it sells that the world wants to buy is oil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-troia-mcfarland/russia-does-not-have-a-modern-economy-it-s-a-petro-power-the-only/) [Kathleen Troia McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-troia-mcfarland/) > [You don't want flame to hit your food. Flame is bad. Flame does nasty things to food. It makes soot and it makes deposits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/you-don-t-want-flame-to-hit-your-food-flame-is-bad-flame-does-nasty/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Well of course there's been a great deal of progress over the last 40 years. We don't have laws that segregate black people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/well-of-course-there-s-been-a-great-deal-of-progress-over-the-last-40/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I want to do - I want to be putting out classic stuff that's gonna stick and last forever, you feel me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yg/i-want-to-do-i-want-to-be-putting-out-classic-stuff-that-s-gonna/) YG > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) ## More by Abraham Cowley > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [The liberty of a people consists in being governed by laws which they have made themselves, under whatsoever form it be of government; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/the-liberty-of-a-people-consists-in-being-governed-by-laws-which-they/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [The monster London laugh at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/the-monster-london-laugh-at-me/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [His time's forever, everywhere his place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/his-time-s-forever-everywhere-his-place/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [I confess I love littleness almost in all things. A little convenient estate, a little cheerful house, a little company, and a little feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/i-confess-i-love-littleness-almost-in-all-things-a-little-convenient/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [The Sunflow'r, thinking 'twas for him foul shame To nap by daylight, strove t' excuse the blame; It was not sleep that made him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/the-sunflow-r-thinking-twas-for-him-foul-shame-to-nap-by-daylight/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [We may talk what we please," he cries in his enthusiasm for the oldest of the arts, "of lilies, and lions rampant, and spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/we-may-talk-what-we-please-he-cries-in-his-enthusiasm-for-the-oldest/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [Solitude can be used well by very few people. They who do must have a knowledge of the world to see the foolishness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/solitude-can-be-used-well-by-very-few-people-they-who-do-must-have-a/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [Stones of small worth may lie unseen by day, But night itself does the rich gem betray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/stones-of-small-worth-may-lie-unseen-by-day-but-night-itself-does-the/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [Gold begets in brethren hate; Gold in families debate; Gold does friendship separate; Gold does civil wars create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/gold-begets-in-brethren-hate-gold-in-families-debate-gold-does/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [Poets by Death are conquer'd but the wit Of poets triumphs over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/poets-by-death-are-conquer-d-but-the-wit-of-poets-triumphs-over-it/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [s a scene of changes, and to be constant in Nature were inconstancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/s-a-scene-of-changes-and-to-be-constant-in-nature-were-inconstancy/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, And many books, both true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/may-i-a-small-house-and-large-garden-have-and-a-few-friends-and-many/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [Sleep is a god too proud to wait in palaces, and yet so humble too as not to scorn the meanest country cottages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/sleep-is-a-god-too-proud-to-wait-in-palaces-and-yet-so-humble-too-as/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [Curs'd be that wretch (Death's factor sure) who brought Dire swords into the peaceful world, and taught Smiths (who before could only make The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/curs-d-be-that-wretch-death-s-factor-sure-who-brought-dire-swords/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) [Explore all 88 Abraham Cowley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now, does always last.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Cowley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but-an-eternal-now-does-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but-an-eternal-now-does-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/abraham-cowley-7641_always_nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but_391442.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is to come, and nothing past: But an eternal now, does always last.” — Abraham Cowley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Cowley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing is to come, and nothing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but-an-eternal-now-does-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/nothing-is-to-come-and-nothing-past-but-an-eternal-now-does-always/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```