Future Quote by Derek Parfit
““We ought not to do to our future selves what it would be wrong to do to other people.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Reasons and Persons by Derek Parfit, 1984
We should treat our future selves with the same moral respect we afford other people, avoiding actions that would harm them.
In simple terms: Treat future you like other people.
Key Takeaway
Consider long‑term impacts of today’s choices.
Themes
ethics
intergenerational responsibility
self‑respect
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- financial planning
- health decisions
- career moves
- environmental choices
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
future‑self continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you act if you could meet your future self?
- What duties do we owe to people we will become?
A Different Perspective
Future selves lack agency, making moral intuition harder to apply.
![“While reasons are provided by the facts,...rationality...depends instead on our beliefs. [...] [I]f I believe falsely that my hotel is on fire, it may be rational for me to jump into the canal. But I have no reason to jump. I merely think I do. And, if some dangerous treatment would save your…” quote by Derek Parfit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ed/derek-parfit-38765_action_while-reasons-are-provided-by-the-facts_2530646.jpg)
