--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can never possibly know what is about…" description: "\"“We can never possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.”\" — Carl Sandberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/carl-sandberg-80462_first-time_we-can-never-possibly-know-what-is-about_2619821.jpg" --- # We can never possibly know what is about to happen: it is… ![“We can never possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.” quote by Carl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/carl-sandberg-80462_first-time_we-can-never-possibly-know-what-is-about_2619821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/carl-sandberg-80462_first-time_we-can-never-possibly-know-what-is-about_2619821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/carl-sandberg-80462_first-time_we-can-never-possibly-know-what-is-about_2619821.jpg) > ““We can never possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.”” [Carl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each moment is uniquely new, never fully predictable, and we experience it as if for the first time. **In simple terms:** Every moment is a fresh, unpredictable experience. Key Takeaway Embrace each moment’s novelty. Themes impermanence presence uncertainty Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily life - decision making - creative work - relationships - stress management Key Concepts Existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay present when outcomes are unknown? - What practices help you accept uncertainty? A Different Perspective It can lead to anxiety if over‑focused on unpredictability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen/) [Happen Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen-happening-1839485/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [Happening Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening-time-2100128/) [Know Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-happen/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [No one can possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-can-possibly-know-what-is-about-to-happen-it-is-happening-each/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whatever is going to happen is already happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-berrigan/whatever-is-going-to-happen-is-already-happening/) [Ted Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-berrigan/) > [You have to live in reality: not in what might happen but what is happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-john-liautaud/you-have-to-live-in-reality-not-in-what-might-happen-but-what-is/) [Jimmy John Liautaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-john-liautaud/) > [If the thing that you want to happen is happening... it's no longer a movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/if-the-thing-that-you-want-to-happen-is-happening-it-s-no-longer-a/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [You don't know what will happen from one minute to the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/you-don-t-know-what-will-happen-from-one-minute-to-the-next/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I'm going to be 50 in 2018 and I figure that I should try to get as much in before then. After 50, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-giedroyc/i-m-going-to-be-50-in-2018-and-i-figure-that-i-should-try-to-get-as/) [Mel Giedroyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-giedroyc/) > [You never know what can happen in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-doncic/you-never-know-what-can-happen-in-the-future/) [Luka Doncic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-doncic/) > [In football, you never know what can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/in-football-you-never-know-what-can-happen/) [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/) > [I move with the time. Whatever's happening in time, I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-move-with-the-time-whatever-s-happening-in-time-i-m-in/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Everything was happening all the time. You never needed television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbet-schroeder/everything-was-happening-all-the-time-you-never-needed-television/) [Barbet Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbet-schroeder/) > [“Time, Eddie had decided during this period, was in large part created by external events. When a lot of interesting shit was happening, time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/time-eddie-had-decided-during-this-period-was-in-large-part-created/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I suppose I was lucky to be born in a time where I was in my early '20s in the '80s. It was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-suppose-i-was-lucky-to-be-born-in-a-time-where-i-was-in-my-early/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [Learning is happening all the time, like breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/learning-is-happening-all-the-time-like-breathing/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [Shakespeare wrote about what was happening during the time; it still relates to us now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latanya-richardson/shakespeare-wrote-about-what-was-happening-during-the-time-it-still/) [LaTanya Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latanya-richardson/) > [One of the soundest rules to remember when making forecasts in the field of economics is that whatever is to happen is happening already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-porter/one-of-the-soundest-rules-to-remember-when-making-forecasts-in-the/) [Sylvia Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-porter/) ## More by Carl Sandberg > [“And the Sphinx broke its long silence: "Don't expect too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandberg/and-the-sphinx-broke-its-long-silence-don-t-expect-too-much/) [Carl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandberg/) > [“One of the great Confederate combat leaders, General John B. 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