--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since we cannot know too much about the…" description: "\"Since we cannot know too much about the long term effects of our particular lives, and since success and fame are not good measures of the value of wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/allen-w-wood-2748_done_since-we-cannot-know-too-much-about-the_2672689.jpg" --- # Since we cannot know too much about the long term effects… ![“Since we cannot know too much about the long term effects of our particular lives, and since success and fame are not good measures of the value of what we have done, it should be enough for any of us that as far as we can tell, in some small way we have made humanity's future better rather than…” quote by Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/allen-w-wood-2748_done_since-we-cannot-know-too-much-about-the_2672689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/allen-w-wood-2748_done_since-we-cannot-know-too-much-about-the_2672689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/allen-w-wood-2748_done_since-we-cannot-know-too-much-about-the_2672689.jpg) > “Since we cannot know too much about the long term effects of our particular lives, and since success and fame are not good measures of the value of what we have done, it should be enough for any of us that as far as we can tell, in some small way we have made humanity's future better rather than worse.” [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our actions should aim to improve humanity's future, not just personal success or fame. **In simple terms:** Focus on making the world better. Key Takeaway Prioritize long‑term collective benefit. Themes ethics future responsibility Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - career choices - community projects - environmental activism Key Concepts utilitarianism intergenerational justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we assess small contributions? - What values guide your decisions? A Different Perspective Hard to measure impact precisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-good-600268/) [Future Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-better/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-future-652457/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“It's not just about what I can SEE for our future, or humanity; it's about what I can DO for our future and humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-s-not-just-about-what-i-can-see-for-our-future-or-humanity-it-s/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [I always have been optimistic about humanity's future. Always. Even at the most dismaying of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/i-always-have-been-optimistic-about-humanity-s-future-always-even-at/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [“It's not about what I SEE for our future, or humanity; It's about what I DO for our future and humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-s-not-about-what-i-see-for-our-future-or-humanity-it-s-about-what/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Without technology humanity has no future, but we have to be careful that we don’t become so mechanised that we lose our human feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/without-technology-humanity-has-no-future-but-we-have-to-be-careful/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I will never apologize for saying that the future of humanity and the future of the world is going to be defined by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-will-never-apologize-for-saying-that-the-future-of-humanity-and-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'm not too worried about humanity in the future. I think we've got an innate ability as a species to self-correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-m-not-too-worried-about-humanity-in-the-future-i-think-we-ve-got-an/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Humanity's future, to say nothing of its prosperity, will depend on how the world tackles two central energy challenges: securing reliable supplies of affordable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatih-birol/humanity-s-future-to-say-nothing-of-its-prosperity-will-depend-on-how/) [Fatih Birol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatih-birol/) > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Lift others up. Treat people with respect. Be positive. Be true to your values. Do your best. Do things that bring you in contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/lift-others-up-treat-people-with-respect-be-positive-be-true-to-your/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Fame is a very good thing to have in the house, but cash is more convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/fame-is-a-very-good-thing-to-have-in-the-house-but-cash-is-more/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Life gives the cruel people fame and good people nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-gives-the-cruel-people-fame-and-good-people-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that sudden fame is not good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gurmeet-choudhary/i-believe-that-sudden-fame-is-not-good/) [Gurmeet Choudhary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gurmeet-choudhary/) > [I think my chances of ever making it into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame are about as good as Milli Vanilli’s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/i-think-my-chances-of-ever-making-it-into-the-rock-roll-hall-of-fame/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [The people who get more fame, who get more money, more often than not they are miserable, insecure and on anti-depressants. It's strange that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/the-people-who-get-more-fame-who-get-more-money-more-often-than-not/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Fame is only good for one thing - they will cash your check in a small town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/fame-is-only-good-for-one-thing-they-will-cash-your-check-in-a-small/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## More by Allen W. Wood > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [No theory about our bodies as mere objects of observation and calculation (as distinct from partners in communicative interaction, assumed to be free) can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/no-theory-about-our-bodies-as-mere-objects-of-observation-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kantian ethical theory distinguishes three levels: First, that of a fundamental principle (the categorical imperative, formulated in three main ways in Kant's Groundwork); second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kantian-ethical-theory-distinguishes-three-levels-first-that-of-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Some empirical feelings, such as sympathy, are indispensable parts of certain moral virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/some-empirical-feelings-such-as-sympathy-are-indispensable-parts-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We commit not only theoretical error but also moral wrong in objectifying ourselves or other rational beings, ignoring their capacities for free action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-commit-not-only-theoretical-error-but-also-moral-wrong-in/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant certainly was sympathetic with the metaphysical tradition of rational theology that he criticized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-certainly-was-sympathetic-with-the-metaphysical-tradition-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [That Hegel's theory is derivative from Fichte's does not prevent it from being strikingly original and of independent value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/that-hegel-s-theory-is-derivative-from-fichte-s-does-not-prevent-it/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is sad to witness the persistence in our society of the racism and xenophobia that seems to be a permanent part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-sad-to-witness-the-persistence-in-our-society-of-the-racism-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is rational to choose the right means to your ends to develop very elegant abstract formal theories of rational choice, and then turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-rational-to-choose-the-right-means-to-your-ends-to-develop-very/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We can never prove that we are free or integrate our freedom in any way into our objective conception of the causal order of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-can-never-prove-that-we-are-free-or-integrate-our-freedom-in-any/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant regards the universalizability test for maxims as focused on a very special sort of situation: one where the agent is tempted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-regards-the-universalizability-test-for-maxims-as-focused-on-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [My own view is that Kant's conception of the duality of the good (morality and happiness, the good of our person and the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/my-own-view-is-that-kant-s-conception-of-the-duality-of-the-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is actually a nice question how far Descartes himself endorses the monological and metaphysically dualistic theory of mind associated with his name and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-actually-a-nice-question-how-far-descartes-himself-endorses-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [In fact people do not know enough about themselves and what is good for them to form a sufficiently definite conception of the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/in-fact-people-do-not-know-enough-about-themselves-and-what-is-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Empiricist philosophy always tends to be anti-philosophy (and is often proud of it).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/empiricist-philosophy-always-tends-to-be-anti-philosophy-and-is-often/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) [Explore all 151 Allen W. Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. 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