--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To live fixated on the future is to…" description: "\"To live fixated on the future is to engage in psychological denial. It is a form of psychic violence that prepares us to accept the violence needed to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/bell-hooks-464_denial_to-live-fixated-on-the-future-is-to-enga_3121617.jpg" --- # To live fixated on the future is to engage in… ![“To live fixated on the future is to engage in psychological denial. It is a form of psychic violence that prepares us to accept the violence needed to ensure the maintenance of imperialist, future-oriented society.” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/bell-hooks-464_denial_to-live-fixated-on-the-future-is-to-enga_3121617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/bell-hooks-464_denial_to-live-fixated-on-the-future-is-to-enga_3121617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/bell-hooks-464_denial_to-live-fixated-on-the-future-is-to-enga_3121617.jpg) > “To live fixated on the future is to engage in psychological denial. It is a form of psychic violence that prepares us to accept the violence needed to ensure the maintenance of imperialist, future-oriented society.” [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obsessing over the future blinds us to present reality, creating a mental violence that sustains oppressive systems. **In simple terms:** Future fixation harms present awareness. Key Takeaway Stay present, resist denial. Themes psychology politics future denial Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - activism - mental health work - policy critique - personal mindfulness Key Concepts psychic violence imperialism systemic control Questions to Reflect On - How does present focus change your actions? - What violence does denial perpetuate? A Different Perspective Future focus can ignore urgent present needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Fixated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixated/) [Fixated Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixated-future-5482520/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Oriented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-oriented-1216209/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Live Fixated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-fixated-5482522/) [Maintenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintenance/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Psychic Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychic-violence-5482521/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [In every interview I have ever read or seen or taken part in, the final question in our future-oriented society is always, What next?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-savitch/in-every-interview-i-have-ever-read-or-seen-or-taken-part-in-the/) [Jessica Savitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-savitch/) > [“The right brain is future oriented. It’s where our aspirations, our dreams, our longings reside. It’s where creativity is born. This is the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan-2/the-right-brain-is-future-oriented-it-s-where-our-aspirations-our/) [M.J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan-2/) > [The reality about transportation is that it's future-oriented. If we're planning for what we have, we're behind the curve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/the-reality-about-transportation-is-that-it-s-future-oriented-if-we/) [Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/) > [We have to define American patriotism as future-oriented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-have-to-define-american-patriotism-as-future-oriented/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [I'm so totally future oriented that, for me, I don't know what the future's about, but I can promise you it's gonna be exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/i-m-so-totally-future-oriented-that-for-me-i-don-t-know-what-the/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [In the 1970s, I think that there was probably a higher degree of respect for science, of hope about the future, and the future-oriented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/in-the-1970s-i-think-that-there-was-probably-a-higher-degree-of/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [With regard to relationship with China and the Republic of Korea, I believe it is important to develop future-oriented co-operative relationship and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/with-regard-to-relationship-with-china-and-the-republic-of-korea-i/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [“…her eyes are fixated on Colton. I want to tell her I understand, I’m under his spell too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/her-eyes-are-fixated-on-colton-i-want-to-tell-her-i-understand-i-m/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [To be fixated on Sahaja Samadhi is to be fixated. To be fixated on the idea of being not fixated is fixation too. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/to-be-fixated-on-sahaja-samadhi-is-to-be-fixated-to-be-fixated-on-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If I find a cute skirt, I'm not fixated on a brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-metz/if-i-find-a-cute-skirt-i-m-not-fixated-on-a-brand/) [Chrissy Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-metz/) > [I was really fixated when I was a child. Again my mother was just talking to me about this, about how I would how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-crewdson/i-was-really-fixated-when-i-was-a-child-again-my-mother-was-just/) [Gregory Crewdson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-crewdson/) > [I'd rather see a kid get fixated on something they can turn into a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-d-rather-see-a-kid-get-fixated-on-something-they-can-turn-into-a/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“When I find that stubbornness continually overrides common sense regardless of the logic of my argument, it seems that the only effective solution is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/when-i-find-that-stubbornness-continually-overrides-common-sense/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I tried to abandon my tenacity, but I just couldn't let it go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/i-tried-to-abandon-my-tenacity-but-i-just-couldn-t-let-it-go/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [I'm not fixated on death but I know tomorrows are not guaranteed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-m-not-fixated-on-death-but-i-know-tomorrows-are-not-guaranteed/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) ## More by bell hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 bell hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Denial quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [It is through suppression that hells are formed in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/it-is-through-suppression-that-hells-are-formed-in-us/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [But we need to be very clear: because of our decades of collective denial, no gradual, incremental options are now available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/but-we-need-to-be-very-clear-because-of-our-decades-of-collective/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [What you try to bury just ends up burying you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/what-you-try-to-bury-just-ends-up-burying-you/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [Its up to any government to decide how to react to the denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, including Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/its-up-to-any-government-to-decide-how-to-react-to-the-denial-of/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Living in denial only makes finding the truth that much harder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-f/living-in-denial-only-makes-finding-the-truth-that-much-harder/) [Jules F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-f/) > [Sanity can take one of only two forms: that of ignorance, or denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/sanity-can-take-one-of-only-two-forms-that-of-ignorance-or-denial/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [Denial leads to closure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/denial-leads-to-closure/) [Aruho Marwin Machiaveli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [It is not a question of who dances but of who or what does not dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-st-denis/it-is-not-a-question-of-who-dances-but-of-who-or-what-does-not-dance/) [Ruth St. Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-st-denis/) > [What’s looming in the shadows of our ignorance and denial is a critique of civilization itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lierre-keith/what-s-looming-in-the-shadows-of-our-ignorance-and-denial-is-a/) [Lierre Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lierre-keith/) > [“You can hold on to the smallest doubt and take comfort in it, stay in denial and go on with your carefree life, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/you-can-hold-on-to-the-smallest-doubt-and-take-comfort-in-it-stay-in/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) [Browse all 1,463 Denial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To live fixated on the future is to engage in psychological denial. 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