--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before is the only time you own, the only…" description: "\"“Before is the only time you own, the only before you can trust is now, and you don’t even know how long before is.”\" — C.J. Cherryh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/c-j-cherryh-24186_time_before-is-the-only-time-you-own-the-only_1402049.jpg" --- # Before is the only time you own, the only before you can… ![“Before is the only time you own, the only before you can trust is now, and you don’t even know how long before is.” quote by C.J. Cherryh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/c-j-cherryh-24186_time_before-is-the-only-time-you-own-the-only_1402049.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/c-j-cherryh-24186_time_before-is-the-only-time-you-own-the-only_1402049.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/c-j-cherryh-24186_time_before-is-the-only-time-you-own-the-only_1402049.jpg) > ““Before is the only time you own, the only before you can trust is now, and you don’t even know how long before is.”” [C.J. Cherryh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-cherryh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The present moment is the only time we truly control; past and future are uncertain. **In simple terms:** Only now is certain. Key Takeaway Focus on the present. Themes time control uncertainty mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - stress reduction - goal setting - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy temporal perception existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize now over imagined futures? - What habits help you stay present? A Different Perspective Future plans can distract from present actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Every time I trust some body, they show me why I shouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-trust-some-body-they-show-me-why-i-shouldn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't trust too much, don't love to much, don't hope too much..because that TOO MUCH can hurt you so MUCH !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-trust-too-much-don-t-love-to-much-don-t-hope-too-much-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the bush, trust no one you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/in-the-bush-trust-no-one-you-don-t-know/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [A relationship cannot survive the test of time without trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dennis/a-relationship-cannot-survive-the-test-of-time-without-trust/) [Gabrielle Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dennis/) > [Dont trust people whose feelings change with time. Trust people whose feelings remain the same, even when the time changes. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-trust-people-whose-feelings-change-with-time-trust-people-whose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Please dont come one more time in front of me. Otherwise I will trust you again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/please-dont-come-one-more-time-in-front-of-me-otherwise-i-will-trust/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [Even where friendship is concerned, it takes me a long time to trust people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namie-amuro/even-where-friendship-is-concerned-it-takes-me-a-long-time-to-trust/) [Namie Amuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namie-amuro/) > [Don't trust people whose feeling change with time.Trust people whose feeling remain the same,even when the time changes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-trust-people-whose-feeling-change-with-time-trust-people-whose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every time I trust someone, they show me why I shouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-trust-someone-they-show-me-why-i-shouldn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “Trust isn't a black and white thing... Everyone has the capacity to let you down at one time or another... \[but\] if you can't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-kathleen-ryan/trust-isn-t-a-black-and-white-thing-everyone-has-the-capacity-to-let/) [Amy Kathleen Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-kathleen-ryan/) > [Don't trust people whose feelings change with time... Trust people whose feelings remain the same, even when the time changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-trust-people-whose-feelings-change-with-time-trust-people-whose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't trust people who changes their feelings with time. trust people whose feelings remains the same when your time changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-trust-people-who-changes-their-feelings-with-time-trust-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't trust people who change their feelings with Time .. Trust people whose feelings remain the same when your time changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-trust-people-who-change-their-feelings-with-time-trust-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We grow in time to trust the future for our answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/we-grow-in-time-to-trust-the-future-for-our-answers/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [And trust. It takes a long time to trust someone. You work with people, anybody you dont know, it takes about a films length…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-bonham-carter/and-trust-it-takes-a-long-time-to-trust-someone-you-work-with-people/) [Helena Bonham Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-bonham-carter/) ## More by C.J. Cherryh > [“But there was someone she knew who could speak with a special knowledge on the Cross-Lexcorp controversy. Someone she’d rather not deal with. 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