---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never try to imagine the future. I…"
description: "\"I never try to imagine the future. I kinda think it's a waste of time. I live in the now.\" — Ani DiFranco"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png"
---

#  I never try to imagine the future. I kinda think it's a…

![“I never try to imagine the future. I kinda think it's a waste of time. I live in the now.” quote by Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png)

> “I never try to imagine the future. I kinda think it's a waste of time. I live in the now.”

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Emphasizes living in the present rather than obsessing over future possibilities.

**In simple terms:** Focus on now, not future.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize present moments.

Themes

mindfulness presentism time management

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- daily routines
- creative work
- personal relationships
- stress reduction

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does living now affect long‑term goals?
- What future plans do you still need?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting future planning can lead to missed opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Live in the now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-now/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/)

## Related quotes

> [If you're always thinking about the future, then you kinda forget about the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-always-thinking-about-the-future-then-you-kinda-forget/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [But in that moment she realized how false most smiles were and what a tremendous waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/but-in-that-moment-she-realized-how-false-most-smiles-were-and-what-a/)

[Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/)

> [I'm trying to be present, not thinking and worrying about the past or the future. That's such a waste of time, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-stefani/i-m-trying-to-be-present-not-thinking-and-worrying-about-the-past-or/)

[Gwen Stefani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-stefani/)

> [My daughters had helped me to stop worrying about my appearance over the years. I wasted so many years thinking I wasn't pretty enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-daughters-had-helped-me-to-stop-worrying-about-my-appearance-over/)

[Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/)

> [Prayer is to the skeptic a delusion, a waste of time. To the believer it represents perhaps the most important use of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/prayer-is-to-the-skeptic-a-delusion-a-waste-of-time-to-the-believer/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [I never analyze it. Analyzing it would just be a waste of time. I just go out and do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-never-analyze-it-analyzing-it-would-just-be-a-waste-of-time-i-just/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [Knowledge for its own sake was meaningless, its mere accumulation a waste of time. Knowledge must lead to understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-finley/knowledge-for-its-own-sake-was-meaningless-its-mere-accumulation-a/)

[Moses Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-finley/)

> [Blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, it will not change you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blame-is-a-waste-of-time-no-matter-how-much-fault-you-find-with/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Retirement is a waste of time. The economy needs you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-kotlikoff/retirement-is-a-waste-of-time-the-economy-needs-you/)

[Laurence Kotlikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-kotlikoff/)

> [It is a waste of time to dissipate one's moral zeal in disapproving of royal persons who have mistresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/it-is-a-waste-of-time-to-dissipate-one-s-moral-zeal-in-disapproving/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [the fact is, that life is too short to be occupied by aught but the present - hope and remembrance are equally a waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-fact-is-that-life-is-too-short-to-be-occupied-by-aught-but-the/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [it is a waste of time to ask more of people than they have to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/it-is-a-waste-of-time-to-ask-more-of-people-than-they-have-to-give/)

[Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/)

> [Regret is an appalling waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/regret-is-an-appalling-waste-of-time/)

[Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/)

> [There is no bigger waste of time than doing 90% of what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/there-is-no-bigger-waste-of-time-than-doing-90-of-what-is-necessary/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Trying to find this industry's tendency to celebrate the physical is a waste of time. So I'm happy to play the game. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/trying-to-find-this-industry-s-tendency-to-celebrate-the-physical-is/)

[Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/)

## More by Ani DiFranco

> [I am getting nowhere with you and I can't let you go and I cant get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-getting-nowhere-with-you-and-i-can-t-let-you-go-and-i-cant-get/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I'll walk the plank and I'll jump with a smile, cause if I'm gonna go down I'm gonna do it with style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-ll-walk-the-plank-and-i-ll-jump-with-a-smile-cause-if-i-m-gonna-go/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/having-more-exposure-is-kind-of-a-bittersweet-thing-for-me-honestly/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I can jump ship and swim-- that the ocean will hold me, that there's got to be more than this boat I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-can-jump-ship-and-swim-that-the-ocean-will-hold-me-that-there-s-got/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [God help you if you are an ugly girl, 'course too pretty is also your doom, 'cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/god-help-you-if-you-are-an-ugly-girl-course-too-pretty-is-also-your/)

[Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I cannot name this, I cannot explain this, and I really don't want to so just call me shameless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-cannot-name-this-i-cannot-explain-this-and-i-really-don-t-want-to/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Somedays the line I walk turns out to be straight - Other days the line tends to deviate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/somedays-the-line-i-walk-turns-out-to-be-straight-other-days-the-line/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I am a work in progress Dressed in the fabric of a world unfolding Offering me intricate patterns of questions Rhythms that never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-a-work-in-progress-dressed-in-the-fabric-of-a-world-unfolding/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [We have a complete void of progressive politics in this country right now. The will of the people goes ignored and unrealized. I'm searching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/we-have-a-complete-void-of-progressive-politics-in-this-country-right/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I'm home in New Orleans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-m-home-in-new-orleans/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I don't take good pictures 'cause I have the kind of beauty that moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-don-t-take-good-pictures-cause-i-have-the-kind-of-beauty-that-moves/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [The scary truth is, you have to scratch some veneer off to gauge where the moral fiber really is in certain pockets of society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/the-scary-truth-is-you-have-to-scratch-some-veneer-off-to-gauge-where/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Both hands... Now use both hands. Oh no, don't close your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/both-hands-now-use-both-hands-oh-no-don-t-close-your-eyes/)

[Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

[Explore all 363 Ani DiFranco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

## 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": "I never try to imagine the future. I kinda think it's a waste of time. I live in the now.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ani DiFranco"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kinda-think-it-s-a-waste-of-time/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Future"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kinda-think-it-s-a-waste-of-time/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/ani-difranco-813_future_i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kind_1844988.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never try to imagine the future. I kinda think it's a waste of time. I live in the now.” — Ani DiFranco",
                "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": "Ani DiFranco",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never try to imagine the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kinda-think-it-s-a-waste-of-time/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-never-try-to-imagine-the-future-i-kinda-think-it-s-a-waste-of-time/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
