--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That we can never know,\" answered the…" description: "\"That we can never know,\" answered the wolf angrily. \"That's for the future. But what we can know is the importance of what we owe to the present. Here ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/david-clement-davies-13688_better-future_that-we-can-never-know-answered-the-wolf_2208994.jpg" --- # That we can never know," answered the wolf angrily… ![“That we can never know," answered the wolf angrily. "That's for the future. But what we can know is the importance of what we owe to the present. Here and now, and nowhere else. For nothing else exists, except in our minds. What we owe to ourselves, and to those we're bound to. And we can at least…” quote by David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/david-clement-davies-13688_better-future_that-we-can-never-know-answered-the-wolf_2208994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/david-clement-davies-13688_better-future_that-we-can-never-know-answered-the-wolf_2208994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/david-clement-davies-13688_better-future_that-we-can-never-know-answered-the-wolf_2208994.jpg) > “That we can never know," answered the wolf angrily. "That's for the future. But what we can know is the importance of what we owe to the present. Here and now, and nowhere else. For nothing else exists, except in our minds. What we owe to ourselves, and to those we're bound to. And we can at least hope to make a better future, for everything.” [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses living fully in the present, recognizing our responsibilities now, while hoping to shape a better future. **In simple terms:** Focus on present duties, hope for future. Key Takeaway Act responsibly now, nurture future hope. Themes responsibility present future hope mindfulness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision - career planning - community service - mental health practice Key Concepts existentialism ethical duty temporal awareness Questions to Reflect On - What present responsibility are you avoiding? - How can you balance present duties with future aspirations? A Different Perspective Neglecting present actions can undermine future outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answered Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-wolf-4882805/) [Better future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-future/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-know-591073/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Importance Owe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-owe-4882806/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Minds Owe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds-owe-4882804/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The future?' came the voice sadly...'And do we really pass anything on to the future, except mirrors of ourselves? What if the future is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/the-future-came-the-voice-sadly-and-do-we-really-pass-anything-on-to/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“But most people don’t bother to engage in acts of creation, like drawing pictures, making music, or building model airplanes. There’s no practical reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-z-lieberman/but-most-people-don-t-bother-to-engage-in-acts-of-creation-like/) [Daniel Z. Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-z-lieberman/) > [To predict the future we would have to know today what we will learn tomorrow which will shape our future actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/to-predict-the-future-we-would-have-to-know-today-what-we-will-learn/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I always think about the future and know that whoever it's with and wherever I live, I know everything will work out just fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-think-about-the-future-and-know-that-whoever-it-s-with-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish I could see my future sometimes and know if I'm making the right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-i-could-see-my-future-sometimes-and-know-if-i-m-making-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We do not know how much our climate could or will change in the future. We do not know how fast change will occur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-do-not-know-how-much-our-climate-could-or-will-change-in-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Replace what you don't know about the future with what you do know about God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/replace-what-you-don-t-know-about-the-future-with-what-you-do-know/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) > [I think it's crazy for us to play games with our children's future. We know what's happening to the climate, we have a highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-think-it-s-crazy-for-us-to-play-games-with-our-children-s-future-we/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“He can't give you a future." "I know. Because I make my own future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-raveling/he-can-t-give-you-a-future-i-know-because-i-make-my-own-future/) [Emma Raveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-raveling/) > [The lesson I've learned the most often in life is that you're always going to know more in the future than you know now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-lesson-i-ve-learned-the-most-often-in-life-is-that-you-re-always/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [When I look into the future. You know what I see? Bae I see you in my future and I will die to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-look-into-the-future-you-know-what-i-see-bae-i-see-you-in-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People should not say that this or that is not worth learning, giving as their reason that it will not be put to use.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/people-should-not-say-that-this-or-that-is-not-worth-learning-giving/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [I believe I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. I know who and what holds the future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-believe-i-don-t-know-what-the-future-holds-but-i-know-who-holds-the/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It is hard sometimes to look into the future, you never know what twist and turn the school of life is going to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lucci/it-is-hard-sometimes-to-look-into-the-future-you-never-know-what/) [Susan Lucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-lucci/) > [Don't rely on our knowledge of what's best for your future. We do know, but it can't be best until you know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/don-t-rely-on-our-knowledge-of-what-s-best-for-your-future-we-do-know/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by David Clement-Davies > [“So let me give you a blessing. When everything around you seems conspiring to tear out your heart and your mind, or show you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/so-let-me-give-you-a-blessing-when-everything-around-you-seems/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Everything Dies. That is the law of life-the bitter unchangeable law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/everything-dies-that-is-the-law-of-life-the-bitter-unchangeable-law/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Death,' whispered Tarlar, 'you do not fear it, Fell? By water, or any other way?' 'What is to fear?" answered the black wolf. 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/death-whispered-tarlar-you-do-not-fear-it-fell-by-water-or-any-other/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Man, who thinks he knows everything. But what does man know...Man cares only for himself, in his fear and hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/man-who-thinks-he-knows-everything-but-what-does-man-know-man-cares/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [know that without night there is no day; without lies, no truth;without despair,no hope. Beware above all of hate, but call to its opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/know-that-without-night-there-is-no-day-without-lies-no-truth-without/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Not stories told by wolf or man to frighten children, of Wolfbane and of werewolves, of grasht and goblins and of silly vampires, fables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/not-stories-told-by-wolf-or-man-to-frighten-children-of-wolfbane-and/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Life is wonderful, so revel in its beauty. Be all you can be, and let go of the past. It is nothing but shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/life-is-wonderful-so-revel-in-its-beauty-be-all-you-can-be-and-let-go/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Christians believe that God came amongst us as a man, do they not? Yet the Muselmen say he was only a prophet, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/christians-believe-that-god-came-amongst-us-as-a-man-do-they-not-yet/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [...at times, the greatest courage of all is to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/at-times-the-greatest-courage-of-all-is-to-live/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“The future?' came the voice sadly...'And do we really pass anything on to the future, except mirrors of ourselves? What if the future is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/the-future-came-the-voice-sadly-and-do-we-really-pass-anything-on-to/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [In that moment she learnt one of the greatest secrets of life: It is often easier to fight for others than it is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/in-that-moment-she-learnt-one-of-the-greatest-secrets-of-life-it-is/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Now go away, or I'll get my friends the Bats to bite you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/now-go-away-or-i-ll-get-my-friends-the-bats-to-bite-you/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Our destinies are our own, if we have the courage to take control of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/our-destinies-are-our-own-if-we-have-the-courage-to-take-control-of/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“they say that wisdom is a woman, and loves a warrior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/they-say-that-wisdom-is-a-woman-and-loves-a-warrior/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“Brassa,' she whispered, 'what is the moon? Why does it grow in the sky?' 'Because the moon is the goddess Tor,' answered Brassa softly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/brassa-she-whispered-what-is-the-moon-why-does-it-grow-in-the-sky/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) [Explore all 49 David Clement-Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) ## More Better future quotes > [“Some women walk towards a better future. Others have chauffeurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/some-women-walk-towards-a-better-future-others-have-chauffeurs/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [We are a party of innovation. We do not reject our traditions, but we are willing to adapt to changing circumstances, when change we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-are-a-party-of-innovation-we-do-not-reject-our-traditions-but-we/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [“Don't be afraid to go left when the world is going right. The French learned that the people have power to make change, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-r-lemieux/don-t-be-afraid-to-go-left-when-the-world-is-going-right-the-french/) [Martin R. Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-r-lemieux/) > [“Arise for the work of humankind. Be humble. However grand you are today or may become tomorrow, you too will be forgotten. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-carney/arise-for-the-work-of-humankind-be-humble-however-grand-you-are-today/) [Mark Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-carney/) > [Everything you need for your better future and success has already been written.And guess What? It's all available.All you have to do is go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/everything-you-need-for-your-better-future-and-success-has-already/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [We must not only imagine a better future for women, children, and persecuted minorities; we must work consistently to make it happen - prioritizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-murad/we-must-not-only-imagine-a-better-future-for-women-children-and/) [Nadia Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-murad/) > [“One is too precious about the past, the other too hungry for the future. One arm being dragged into the past by the ethics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winy-maas/one-is-too-precious-about-the-past-the-other-too-hungry-for-the/) [Winy Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winy-maas/) > [“Today, we exaggerate the differences between left-liberal egalitarianism and libertarian individualism because almost everyone shares their common indefinite attitude. In philosophy, politics, and business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/today-we-exaggerate-the-differences-between-left-liberal/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [I would thank the past for a better future cause pain makes me stronger, tears makes me braver and heartbreak makes me wiser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-thank-the-past-for-a-better-future-cause-pain-makes-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more prepared I am, the better my future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-herrera/the-more-prepared-i-am-the-better-my-future/) [Alfonso Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-herrera/) > [Feminism is, I hope, a way to a better future for everyone who inhabits this world. Feminism should not be something that needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/feminism-is-i-hope-a-way-to-a-better-future-for-everyone-who-inhabits/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves for their country and, frankly, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-nations-of-the-middle-east-will-have-to-decide-what-kind-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [No one is innocent in the tide of history. Everyone has kings and slaves in his past. Everyone has saints and sinners. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/no-one-is-innocent-in-the-tide-of-history-everyone-has-kings-and/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [I hurt for every mother who's lost a son, every son who's lost a father, and every child whose life was taken far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mcbath/i-hurt-for-every-mother-who-s-lost-a-son-every-son-who-s-lost-a/) [Lucy McBath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mcbath/) > [Cleaning out the past, packing up the present, and preparing for a much better future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/cleaning-out-the-past-packing-up-the-present-and-preparing-for-a-much/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) [Browse all 382 Better future quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-future/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That we can never know,\" answered the wolf angrily. \"That's for the future. 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