---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are living for tomorrow, you will…"
description: "\"If you are living for tomorrow, you will always be one day behind.\" — Bill Hicks"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg"
---

#  If you are living for tomorrow, you will always be one day…

![“If you are living for tomorrow, you will always be one day behind.” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg)

> “If you are living for tomorrow, you will always be one day behind.”

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

## About This Quote

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

Living only for the future keeps you perpetually lagging behind present moments.

**In simple terms:** Focusing on tomorrow makes you miss today.

Key Takeaway

Act now, value the present.

Themes

time mindfulness productivity

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal relationships
- daily routines

Key Concepts

future orientation present focus

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you do today that matters?
- How does future‑focus affect your happiness?

A Different Perspective

May neglect immediate opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't start living tomorrow, tomorrow never arrives. Start working on your dreams and ambitions today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-forgotten/don-t-start-living-tomorrow-tomorrow-never-arrives-start-working-on/)

The Forgotten

> [If people insist on living as if there's no tomorrow, there really won't be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-people-insist-on-living-as-if-there-s-no-tomorrow-there-really-won/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [We're going to spend our entire future living in tomorrow-investing now, when it's difficult, is the single best moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/we-re-going-to-spend-our-entire-future-living-in-tomorrow-investing/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [We can't just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/we-can-t-just-continue-living-as-if-there-was-no-tomorrow-because/)

[Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/)

> [Nobody got where they are today by living for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wilson/nobody-got-where-they-are-today-by-living-for-tomorrow/)

[Tom Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wilson/)

> [No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/no-one-can-confidently-say-that-he-will-still-be-living-tomorrow/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“Today’s life cannot be lived by living in tomorrow!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/today-s-life-cannot-be-lived-by-living-in-tomorrow/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Good action today will produce good living tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/good-action-today-will-produce-good-living-tomorrow/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [“There are a few people who are able to know of their death and use the time wisely. But when you start planning for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/there-are-a-few-people-who-are-able-to-know-of-their-death-and-use/)

[C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/)

> [It is easy to be mindless in America, because dreaming of and living for a better tomorrow is the American way. ... The problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/it-is-easy-to-be-mindless-in-america-because-dreaming-of-and-living/)

[Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/)

> [“I want so bloody bad to be your constant—what you cling to. But I want it to be because it is what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renea-mason/i-want-so-bloody-bad-to-be-your-constant-what-you-cling-to-but-i-want/)

[Renea Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renea-mason/)

> [“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/never-put-off-until-tomorrow-what-you-can-do-the-day-after-tomorrow/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“One day we'll get what we deserve, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aly-galaviz/one-day-we-ll-get-what-we-deserve-maybe-not-today-maybe-not-tomorrow/)

Aly Galaviz

> [“It’s not always about tomorrow and the day after that—what we achieve over the years and how we leave the world. Sometimes it’s about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/it-s-not-always-about-tomorrow-and-the-day-after-that-what-we-achieve/)

[Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/)

> [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## More by Bill Hicks

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [not all drugs are good.. some of them are great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/not-all-drugs-are-good-some-of-them-are-great/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [If you don't think drugs have done good things for us, then take all of your records, tapes and CD's and burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-don-t-think-drugs-have-done-good-things-for-us-then-take-all/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [I don't do drugs anymore... than, say, the average touring funk band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-don-t-do-drugs-anymore-than-say-the-average-touring-funk-band/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [How many people disapprove of the job the Conservatives are doing? Seventy percent. Of those same people, how many will vote for them again?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/how-many-people-disapprove-of-the-job-the-conservatives-are-doing/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [BTW A 24 week old embryo is not a human being. You're not a human being until you're in my phone book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/btw-a-24-week-old-embryo-is-not-a-human-being-you-re-not-a-human/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [Christianity has a built-in defense system: anything that questions a belief, no matter how logical the argument is, is the work of Satan by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/christianity-has-a-built-in-defense-system-anything-that-questions-a/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [I'm just trying to rid the world of all these fevered egos that are tainting our collective unconscious...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-m-just-trying-to-rid-the-world-of-all-these-fevered-egos-that-are/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor – even President, it seemed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-told-when-i-grew-up-i-could-be-anything-i-wanted-a-fireman-a/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [Good comedy helps people know they're not alone. Great comedy provides an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/good-comedy-helps-people-know-they-re-not-alone-great-comedy-provides/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [People ask me what I think about that woman priest thing. What, a woman priest? Women priests. Great, great. Now there's priests of both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/people-ask-me-what-i-think-about-that-woman-priest-thing-what-a-woman/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [Oh sorry, I was taking life seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/oh-sorry-i-was-taking-life-seriously/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [I can't watch TV longer than five minutes without praying for nuclear holocaust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-can-t-watch-tv-longer-than-five-minutes-without-praying-for-nuclear/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [I'm not really a heavy smoker any more. I only get through two lighters a day now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-m-not-really-a-heavy-smoker-any-more-i-only-get-through-two/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [You watch the news these days? It's unbelievable. You think you just walk out your door, you're immediately gonna be raped by some crack-addicted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/you-watch-the-news-these-days-it-s-unbelievable-you-think-you-just/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

[Explore all 317 Bill Hicks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

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

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

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

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you are living for tomorrow, you will always be one day behind.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bill Hicks"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will-always-be-one-day-behind/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will-always-be-one-day-behind/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/bill-hicks-970_behinds_if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will_291975.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you are living for tomorrow, you will always be one day behind.” — Bill Hicks",
                "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": "Bill Hicks",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you are living for tomorrow,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will-always-be-one-day-behind/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-are-living-for-tomorrow-you-will-always-be-one-day-behind/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
