--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way to predict the future is to…" description: "\"The best way to predict the future is to invent it.\" — Alan Kay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg" --- # The best way to predict the future is to invent it. ![“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” quote by Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg) > “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating the future requires proactive creation rather than passive prediction. **In simple terms:** Make your own future. Key Takeaway Invent, don’t predict. Themes innovation future agency Mood optimistic determined Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - business strategy - personal goals - technology development - policy making Key Concepts creativity proactivity design Questions to Reflect On - What can you create today that shapes tomorrow? - How do you balance invention with prediction? A Different Perspective Requires resources and risk; not always feasible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We cannot predict the future, but we can invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/we-cannot-predict-the-future-but-we-can-invent-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Don't worry about what anybody else is going to do. The best way to predict the future is to invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/don-t-worry-about-what-anybody-else-is-going-to-do-the-best-way-to/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [You can't really predict the future. All you can do is invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/you-can-t-really-predict-the-future-all-you-can-do-is-invent-it/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [“Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [Steve Jobs: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/steve-jobs-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it-alan-kay/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I love the future we might invent for ourselves that I have not yet dreamt of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-love-the-future-we-might-invent-for-ourselves-that-i-have-not-yet/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“The best way to predict the future is to invent it” and “People who are serious about software should make their own hardware.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it-and-people-who-are/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I just want to pause for a moment on the word 'invent' because the phrase isn't 'succeed in the future,' it's not 'plan for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-just-want-to-pause-for-a-moment-on-the-word-invent-because-the/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The only way you can predict the future is to build it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future-is-to-build-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Who knows how things will be years from now? Only time will tell. No need to try & predict the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-knows-how-things-will-be-years-from-now-only-time-will-tell-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“If you can predict the future, you can change the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-you-can-predict-the-future-you-can-change-the-past/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [It is hard to predict the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/it-is-hard-to-predict-the-future/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) ## More by Alan Kay > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Quite a few people have to believe something is normal before it becomes normal - a sort of 'voting' situation. But once the threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/quite-a-few-people-have-to-believe-something-is-normal-before-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Every technology really needs to be shipped with a special manual - not how to use it but why, when and for what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/every-technology-really-needs-to-be-shipped-with-a-special-manual-not/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Java and C++ make you think that the new ideas are like the old ones. Java is the most distressing thing to hit computing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/java-and-c-make-you-think-that-the-new-ideas-are-like-the-old-ones/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [It's hard to change information in books, but if we have everything online, then a somewhat untrustworthy group of people controlling the thing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/it-s-hard-to-change-information-in-books-but-if-we-have-everything/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Computer programmers do it byte by byte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/computer-programmers-do-it-byte-by-byte/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Lisp isn't a language, it's a building material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/lisp-isn-t-a-language-it-s-a-building-material/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The tree of research must be fed from time to time with the blood of bean-counters, for it is its natural manure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-tree-of-research-must-be-fed-from-time-to-time-with-the-blood-of/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/people-who-are-really-serious-about-software-should-make-their-own/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I think the trick with knowledge is to “acquire it, and forget all except the perfume” - because it is noisy and sometimes drowns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/i-think-the-trick-with-knowledge-is-to-acquire-it-and-forget-all/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Possibly the only real object-oriented system in working order. (About Internet)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/possibly-the-only-real-object-oriented-system-in-working-order-about/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [“A change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/a-change-in-perspective-is-worth-80-iq-points/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Humans are communications junkies. We just can't get enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/humans-are-communications-junkies-we-just-can-t-get-enough/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) [Explore all 91 Alan Kay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) ## More Future quotes > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [“We have no idea, now, of who or what the inhabitants of our future might be. In that sense, we have no future. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/we-have-no-idea-now-of-who-or-what-the-inhabitants-of-our-future/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [Football is my passion, and who knows where I will play in the future - you cannot foresee that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/football-is-my-passion-and-who-knows-where-i-will-play-in-the-future/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [I think everybody in the future has stopped talking to each other and we all just use emojis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/i-think-everybody-in-the-future-has-stopped-talking-to-each-other-and/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [When you continue to dwell on the past, there's no chance for a future. History repeats itself, thus, it's ok to LOOK back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-continue-to-dwell-on-the-past-there-s-no-chance-for-a-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) [Browse all 12,349 Future quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best way to predict the future is to invent it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Kay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/alan-kay-7358_future_the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to_1437858.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay", "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 Kay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best way to predict the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/#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 } } ] } ```