--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mentioned that one of the tripartite…" description: "\"I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future.\" — Alan Dundes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png" --- # I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in… ![“I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future.” quote by Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png) > “I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future.” [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American worldview often splits time into past, present, future, shaping identity and purpose. **In simple terms:** Time is divided into three parts influencing culture. Key Takeaway Recognize how temporal framing shapes decisions. Themes culture identity temporal perception Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal planning - historical analysis - future forecasting Key Concepts folklore narrative structure worldview Questions to Reflect On - How does this tripartite view affect your goals? - Do you feel constrained by these time divisions? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on categories can oversimplify complex experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-present/) [Past present and future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-present-and-future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worldview](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldview/) ## Related quotes > [Trust me: you make a movie about time travel, and you know for a fact humans will never travel through time. The paradoxes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/trust-me-you-make-a-movie-about-time-travel-and-you-know-for-a-fact/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Selfless giving involves time. It takes a bit of time to care and share yourself with the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/selfless-giving-involves-time-it-takes-a-bit-of-time-to-care-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Some physicists postulate that the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously and that we simply experience whatever present slice of the universe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/some-physicists-postulate-that-the-past-present-and-future-all-exist/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [In quitting this strange world he has once again preceded me by a little. That doesn't mean anything. For those of us who believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-quitting-this-strange-world-he-has-once-again-preceded-me-by-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Learn from yesterday, live for today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/learn-from-yesterday-live-for-today/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/now-he-has-departed-from-this-strange-world-a-little-ahead-of-me-that/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist…It’s just an illusion here on Earth that one moment follows another one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/all-moments-past-present-and-future-always-have-existed-always-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I met a boy whose eyes showed me that the past, present and future were all the same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-met-a-boy-whose-eyes-showed-me-that-the-past-present-and-future/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) > [The seams, the laminae between the various worlds the past present and future as well as the living and the nonliving may not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bass/the-seams-the-laminae-between-the-various-worlds-the-past-present-and/) [Rick Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bass/) > [Creation is all space, all time - all things past, present, and future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/creation-is-all-space-all-time-all-things-past-present-and-future/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [If Past Present and Future make the moment we call NOW can the word N.O.W. stand for New Omnipresent World?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/if-past-present-and-future-make-the-moment-we-call-now-can-the-word-n/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/one-of-the-most-tragic-things-i-know-about-human-nature-is-that-all-2/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“We are all of our past, present and future lives, as well as the younger and older versions of ourselves. We are also every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-anthony-gibbs/we-are-all-of-our-past-present-and-future-lives-as-well-as-the/) [Russell Anthony Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-anthony-gibbs/) > [The paintings are kind of set in the past, present, and future all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-cooke/the-paintings-are-kind-of-set-in-the-past-present-and-future-all-at/) [Nigel Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-cooke/) > [“I would wonder if you could be a hero or heroine if you did not live in deep time, that is, Past, present, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-would-wonder-if-you-could-be-a-hero-or-heroine-if-you-did-not-live/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## More by Alan Dundes > [Folklore provides a socially sanctioned outlet for the discussion of the forbidden and taboo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/folklore-provides-a-socially-sanctioned-outlet-for-the-discussion-of/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [The class has become over the years fairly large, running to three hundred or more, but I always insist upon reading all the student…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/the-class-has-become-over-the-years-fairly-large-running-to-three/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [Their term project consists of a fieldwork collection of folklore that they create by interviewing family members, friends, or anyone they can manage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/their-term-project-consists-of-a-fieldwork-collection-of-folklore/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [In the light of our culture, these are not unreasonable questions and tactics, but if once again, we try to see the lens through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/in-the-light-of-our-culture-these-are-not-unreasonable-questions-and/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [The study of folklore is largely the study of particular folklore genres: myth, folktale, legend, ballad, proverb, riddle, superstition, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/the-study-of-folklore-is-largely-the-study-of-particular-folklore/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [Cities all over the world are getting bigger as more and more people move from rural to urban sites, but that has created enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/cities-all-over-the-world-are-getting-bigger-as-more-and-more-people/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [I have a great advantage over many of my colleagues inasmuch as my students bring with them to class their own personal knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/i-have-a-great-advantage-over-many-of-my-colleagues-inasmuch-as-my/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [Americans do believe in progress and there is almost certainly a kernel of truth in the joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/americans-do-believe-in-progress-and-there-is-almost-certainly-a/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [Americans have a penchant for the future and tend to disregard the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/americans-have-a-penchant-for-the-future-and-tend-to-disregard-the/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [My academic identity is that of a folklorist, and for many years I have taught only folklore courses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/my-academic-identity-is-that-of-a-folklorist-and-for-many-years-i/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [In my introductory course, Anthropology 160, the Forms of Folklore, I try to show the students what the major and minor genres of folklore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/in-my-introductory-course-anthropology-160-the-forms-of-folklore-i/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [As a folklorist, I have come to believe that no piece of folklore continues to be transmitted unless it means something - even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/as-a-folklorist-i-have-come-to-believe-that-no-piece-of-folklore/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [Life, it seems, is nothing if not a series of initiations, transitions, and incorporations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/life-it-seems-is-nothing-if-not-a-series-of-initiations-transitions/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [I find all folklore challenging, and I never cease to be grateful that I became a professional folklorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/i-find-all-folklore-challenging-and-i-never-cease-to-be-grateful-that/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/light-travels-faster-than-sound-this-is-why-some-people-appear-bright/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) [Explore all 26 Alan Dundes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) ## More Formulas quotes > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it? There are many formulas. One year for every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-ask-everybody-you-know-how-long-does-it-usually-take-to-get-over/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [I think social networks are really working for the drivers, because we're able to talk directly to fans and they get first-hand information. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/i-think-social-networks-are-really-working-for-the-drivers-because-we/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) > [There is no secret formula--only a life committed to a close walk with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/there-is-no-secret-formula-only-a-life-committed-to-a-close-walk-with/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [This formula of Love is universal; all the laws of Nature are its servitors. Thus, gravitation, chemical affinity, electrical potential, and the rest -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-formula-of-love-is-universal-all-the-laws-of-nature-are-its/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The unique essence of being an artist is dying. Eveything looks the same. Now there’s a formula. And it works. - But it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/the-unique-essence-of-being-an-artist-is-dying-eveything-looks-the/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor. On being reproached that his formula of gravitation was longer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-you-are-out-to-describe-the-truth-leave-elegance-to-the-tailor-on/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The bourgeois thinkers of the eighteenth century thus turned Aristotle's formula on its head: satisfactions which the Greek philosopher had identified with leisure were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-bourgeois-thinkers-of-the-eighteenth-century-thus-turned/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [How do you spell peace? P-R-A-Y-E-R! Anything you believe you need is available to you through prayer. We are not talking here about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/how-do-you-spell-peace-p-r-a-y-e-r-anything-you-believe-you-need-is/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Unbelievable how silly this Formula 1 is these days, with this stupid overtakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-vettel/unbelievable-how-silly-this-formula-1-is-these-days-with-this-stupid/) [Sebastian Vettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-vettel/) Browse all 845 Formulas quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Dundes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-formulas-in-american-worldview/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Formulas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-formulas-in-american-worldview/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/alan-dundes-23442_formulas_i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-f_1250186.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and…” — Alan Dundes", "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": "Alan Dundes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I mentioned that one of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-formulas-in-american-worldview/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/i-mentioned-that-one-of-the-tripartite-formulas-in-american-worldview/#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 } } ] } ```