--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in vain that we can predict and…" description: "\"“It is in vain that we can predict and control the course of events in the future, unless we know how to live in the present. It is in vain that doctor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/alan-wilson-watts-4665_life_it-is-in-vain-that-we-can-predict-and-co_853600.jpg" --- # It is in vain that we can predict and control the course… ![“It is in vain that we can predict and control the course of events in the future, unless we know how to live in the present. It is in vain that doctors prolong life if we spend the extra time being anxious to live still longer. It is in vain that engineers devise faster and easier means of travel…” quote by Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/alan-wilson-watts-4665_life_it-is-in-vain-that-we-can-predict-and-co_853600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/alan-wilson-watts-4665_life_it-is-in-vain-that-we-can-predict-and-co_853600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/alan-wilson-watts-4665_life_it-is-in-vain-that-we-can-predict-and-co_853600.jpg) > ““It is in vain that we can predict and control the course of events in the future, unless we know how to live in the present. It is in vain that doctors prolong life if we spend the extra time being anxious to live still longer. It is in vain that engineers devise faster and easier means of travel if the new sights that we see are merely sorted and understood in terms of old prejudices. It is in vain that we get the power of the atom if we are just to continue in the rut of blowing people up.”” [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-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 quote argues that future predictions, medical extensions, technological advances, and atomic power are meaningless without present awareness, genuine understanding, and ethical use. **In simple terms:** Future gains are useless without present awareness and ethical use. Key Takeaway Focus on present living and responsible action. Themes mindfulness ethics technology health power Mood thoughtful critical inspirational Type philosophical motivational reflective When to use this quote - daily meditation - healthcare decisions - technology design - policy making Key Concepts present awareness ethical responsibility meaningful progress Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance present awareness with future planning? - What ethical frameworks guide technological use? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of planning and scientific progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-unless-551981/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Live Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-longer/) [Prolong Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prolong-life-751513/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vain Predict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain-predict-775779/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t let anyone from your past interfere with your future unless your goal is to go back to the pass or have them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamadi-tapsoba/don-t-let-anyone-from-your-past-interfere-with-your-future-unless/) [Mohamadi Tapsoba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamadi-tapsoba/) > [ “...\[Y\]ou cannot successfully navigate the future unless you keep always framed beside it a small clear image of the past.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/y-ou-cannot-successfully-navigate-the-future-unless-you-keep-always/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [They messed up your past, but they can't mess up your future unless YOU let them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/they-messed-up-your-past-but-they-can-t-mess-up-your-future-unless/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [You've no future unless you add value, create projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/you-ve-no-future-unless-you-add-value-create-projects/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I believe that children are our future. 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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": "“It is in vain that we can predict and control the course of events in the future, unless we know how to live in the present. It is in vain that doctors prolong life if we spend the extra time being anxious to live still longer. It is in vain that engineers devise faster and easier means of travel if the new sights that we see are merely sorted and understood in terms of old prejudices. 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