--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way you can predict the future…" description: "\"The only way you can predict the future is to build it.\" — Alan Kay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg" --- # The only way you can predict the future is to build it. ![“The only way you can predict the future is to build it.” quote by Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg) > “The only way you can predict the future is to build 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. Future outcomes are created by intentional actions rather than passive prediction. **In simple terms:** Build the future you want instead of trying to guess it. Key Takeaway Take proactive steps to shape tomorrow. Themes innovation future planning agency creativity technology Mood optimistic motivational forward‑looking Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal goal setting - community projects - educational programs - policy development Key Concepts Systems thinking design thinking entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - What concrete actions can you take today to influence your desired future? - How do you balance vision with practical constraints? A Different Perspective Predicting the future can be unreliable; building it requires resources and collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-build-649741/) [Predict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predict/) [Predict Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predict-future-241560/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Whatever the future holds, we'll face it together, Jack. Our job is not to predict the future, but rather to build it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-myklusch/whatever-the-future-holds-we-ll-face-it-together-jack-our-job-is-not/) [Matt Myklusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-myklusch/) > [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/) > [The best way to predict the future is to invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [As a society, we can't hide from the future; we have to build and own it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/as-a-society-we-can-t-hide-from-the-future-we-have-to-build-and-own-it/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“Advantage lies in a capacity to predict the future before your rivals can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/advantage-lies-in-a-capacity-to-predict-the-future-before-your-rivals/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Today we aren’t quite to the place that H. G. Wells predicted years ago, but society is getting closer out of necessity. Global businesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-we-aren-t-quite-to-the-place-that-h-g-wells-predicted-years-ago/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No one can predict the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/no-one-can-predict-the-future/) [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/) > [I've never been able to predict the future of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/i-ve-never-been-able-to-predict-the-future-of-anything/) [Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/) > [“The past doesn't predict your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-styba/the-past-doesn-t-predict-your-future/) [Courtney Styba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-styba/) > [“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 Build quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [I build on Christ, the rock of ages; on his sure mercies described in his word, and on his promises, all which I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-build-on-christ-the-rock-of-ages-on-his-sure-mercies-described-in/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [The way you get wickets is, you've got to build pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-arthur/the-way-you-get-wickets-is-you-ve-got-to-build-pressure/) [Mickey Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-arthur/) > [For rich children, it'd be very easy and convenient never to take any steps to build an identity outside of your association with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-johnson/for-rich-children-it-d-be-very-easy-and-convenient-never-to-take-any/) [Jamie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-johnson/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [You have to build what the market needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-s-miller/you-have-to-build-what-the-market-needs/) [Jamie S. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-s-miller/) > [I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/i-oppose-any-proposal-for-the-federal-government-to-build-and-operate/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [“Create with the heart; build with the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/create-with-the-heart-build-with-the-mind/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For 'Inhuman,' it's a 'chess game' series. You have a lot of pieces moving different ways at once, and it's about what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soule/for-inhuman-it-s-a-chess-game-series-you-have-a-lot-of-pieces-moving/) [Charles Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-soule/) > [What we need to make sure we do as a team is build the quickest car on the grid - if we have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/what-we-need-to-make-sure-we-do-as-a-team-is-build-the-quickest-car/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) > [Always build. If you start at fever pitch, there's nowhere to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goldman/always-build-if-you-start-at-fever-pitch-there-s-nowhere-to-go/) [Jane Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goldman/) > [I have spent my career helping to build and grow businesses, and if I've learned one thing, it's that being pro-business and pro-consumer are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/i-have-spent-my-career-helping-to-build-and-grow-businesses-and-if-i/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [If you can build it, you can unbuild it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-pitts/if-you-can-build-it-you-can-unbuild-it/) [Jake Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-pitts/) > [You don't build your character by doing what everybody else is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ghosn/you-don-t-build-your-character-by-doing-what-everybody-else-is-doing/) [Carlos Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ghosn/) [Browse all 1,564 Build quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way you can predict the future is to build it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Kay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future-is-to-build-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Build" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future-is-to-build-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/alan-kay-7358_time_the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future_1650557.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way you can predict the future is to build 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 only way you can predict...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future-is-to-build-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-only-way-you-can-predict-the-future-is-to-build-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 } } ] } ```