--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you insist on being determined by the…" description: "\"If you insist on being determined by the past that's your game, but the fact of the matter is it all starts right now.\" — Alan Watts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg" --- # If you insist on being determined by the past that's your… ![“If you insist on being determined by the past that's your game, but the fact of the matter is it all starts right now.” quote by Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg) > “If you insist on being determined by the past that's your game, but the fact of the matter is it all starts right now.” [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The present moment determines your future; relying on past identity limits growth. **In simple terms:** Your future depends on now, not past. Key Takeaway Focus on present choices. Themes self‑awareness growth present‑moment Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship choices - creative projects - habit formation Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does clinging to past narratives hinder your present? - What can you change now to alter your future? A Different Perspective Past experiences shape but do not dictate current possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“When you think it's over,the actual matter starts from there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shikh-hadeer/when-you-think-it-s-over-the-actual-matter-starts-from-there/) Shikh Hadeer > [The story of Black Lives Matter starts before Black Lives Matter. The story of Black Lives Matter, for me, starts with my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-story-of-black-lives-matter-starts-before-black-lives-matter-the/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [It all starts right there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/it-all-starts-right-there/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [We must see to it that the workforce of tomorrow starts off on the right foot, and that means better support for Missouri children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-parson/we-must-see-to-it-that-the-workforce-of-tomorrow-starts-off-on-the/) [Mike Parson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-parson/) > [“There are enough ideas, images, symbols, and experiences in your head already to work with for a lifetime. It's a little like having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-dodson/there-are-enough-ideas-images-symbols-and-experiences-in-your-head/) [Bert Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-dodson/) > [The present is determined by our past actions, and the future by the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-present-is-determined-by-our-past-actions-and-the-future-by-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Passion has determined our past. Attitude will determine our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mcginley/passion-has-determined-our-past-attitude-will-determine-our-future/) Paul McGinley > [The present time of believers is no longer determined by the past. It takes its definition from the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rgen-moltmann/the-present-time-of-believers-is-no-longer-determined-by-the-past-it/) [Jürgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-rgen-moltmann/) > [I have been determined for the past couple of years to move away from all those Holiday programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-dando/i-have-been-determined-for-the-past-couple-of-years-to-move-away-from/) Jill Dando > [Everything in your future is NOT determined by your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/everything-in-your-future-is-not-determined-by-your-past/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Your life isn't determined by who you were in the past; your life is determined by the steps that you are willing to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/your-life-isn-t-determined-by-who-you-were-in-the-past-your-life-is/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-was-determined-to-be-an-actor-and-make-a-name-in-the-industry-and/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. 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Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More by Alan Watts > [“The self-conscious feedback mechanism of the cortex allows us the hallucination that we are two souls in one body -a rational soul and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-self-conscious-feedback-mechanism-of-the-cortex-allows-us-the/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The more we try to catch hold of the present moment the more elusive it becomes. It is like trying to clutch water in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-more-we-try-to-catch-hold-of-the-present-moment-the-more-elusive/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The Universe is the game of the self, which plays hide and seek forever and ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-universe-is-the-game-of-the-self-which-plays-hide-and-seek/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-my-happiness-at-this-moment-consists-largely-in-reviewing-happy/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [...mysticism and empiricism go together in opposition to scholasticism...they base themselves on the non-linear world of experience rather than the linear world of letters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/mysticism-and-empiricism-go-together-in-opposition-to-scholasticism/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The hallucination of being a separate ego will not stand up to biological tests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-hallucination-of-being-a-separate-ego-will-not-stand-up-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/although-profoundly-inconsequential-the-zen-experience-has/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Everything is perpetually becoming new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/everything-is-perpetually-becoming-new/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The psychotherapist ... tries to help the individual to be himself and to go it alone without giving unnecessary offense to his community, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-psychotherapist-tries-to-help-the-individual-to-be-himself-and-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“As you make more and more powerful microscopic instruments, the universe has to get smaller and smaller in order to escape the investigation. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/as-you-make-more-and-more-powerful-microscopic-instruments-the/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [We are at the moment looking at space as something to be entered by the tremendous thrust of a rocket because that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/we-are-at-the-moment-looking-at-space-as-something-to-be-entered-by/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [A philosopher is a sort of intellectual yokel who gawks at things that sensible people take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/a-philosopher-is-a-sort-of-intellectual-yokel-who-gawks-at-things/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The best way to convince someone is by making him realize that what you speak came from his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-best-way-to-convince-someone-is-by-making-him-realize-that-what/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The myths underlying our culture and underlying our common sense have not taught us to feel identical with the universe, but only parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-myths-underlying-our-culture-and-underlying-our-common-sense-have/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [To feel that life is meaningless unless “I” can be permanent is like having fallen desperately in love with an inch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/to-feel-that-life-is-meaningless-unless-i-can-be-permanent-is-like/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) [Explore all 460 Alan Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## More Determined quotes > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/ignorance-is-not-bliss-it-is-oblivion-determined-ignorance-is-the/) [Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/) > [I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-was-determined-to-be-an-actor-and-make-a-name-in-the-industry-and/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. Certainly nothing can keep you down if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/always-remember-there-is-more-strength-in-you-than-you-ever-realized/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [The more we sense...our ultimate potential, the more determined we become to achieve it. It's the difference between your mother hounding you to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-more-we-sense-our-ultimate-potential-the-more-determined-we/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your success will be determined by the quality of your relationships with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/your-success-will-be-determined-by-the-quality-of-your-relationships/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, Our Flag will be recognized throughout the World as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/we-are-determined-that-before-the-sun-sets-on-this-terrible-struggle/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) [Browse all 2,245 Determined quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you insist on being determined by the past that's your game, but the fact of the matter is it all starts right now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Watts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the-past-that-s-your-game-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Determined" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the-past-that-s-your-game-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/alan-watts-587_determined_if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the_795424.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you insist on being determined by the past that's your game, but the fact of the matter is it all starts…” — Alan Watts", "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 Watts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you insist on being determined...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the-past-that-s-your-game-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-you-insist-on-being-determined-by-the-past-that-s-your-game-but/#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 } } ] } ```