--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ego always looks toward the next…" description: "\"The ego always looks toward the next moment for some kind of fulfillment.\" — Eckhart Tolle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg" --- # The ego always looks toward the next moment for some kind… ![“The ego always looks toward the next moment for some kind of fulfillment.” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg) > “The ego always looks toward the next moment for some kind of fulfillment.” [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ego seeks immediate gratification, constantly chasing future fulfillment, which prevents present awareness. **In simple terms:** Ego chases future happiness, ignoring now. Key Takeaway Practice present‑moment awareness. Themes ego mindfulness future fulfillment Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - goal setting - stress management - mindful decision‑making Key Concepts Temporal desire self‑identity Questions to Reflect On - How often do you act out of ego? - What present moment can you fully experience now? A Different Perspective Focusing on future can cause anxiety and neglect of present. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Accidents are just from where you're looking; to the ego, it looks like it's miracles and accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/accidents-are-just-from-where-you-re-looking-to-the-ego-it-looks-like/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [You can find people who have discovered the fact that it's really helping people, it's really being compassionate toward other human beings that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/you-can-find-people-who-have-discovered-the-fact-that-it-s-really/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [“The picture that bowls you over at first sight and the next day loses even the power to attract your attention is one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-picture-that-bowls-you-over-at-first-sight-and-the-next-day-loses/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“An ego always looks at his face in the mirror never in his eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-ego-always-looks-at-his-face-in-the-mirror-never-in-his-eyes/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The moment he smiles and looks at you .Is the moment you know he the one for you .without any doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda/the-moment-he-smiles-and-looks-at-you-is-the-moment-you-know-he-the/) [Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda/) > [Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/those-who-have-not-found-their-true-wealth-which-is-the-radiant-joy/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Presence is when you're no longer waiting for the next moment, believing that the next moment will be more fulfilling than this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/presence-is-when-you-re-no-longer-waiting-for-the-next-moment/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [In this way, a permanent energy field of a pure and high frequency will arise between you. No illusion, no pain, no conflict, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/in-this-way-a-permanent-energy-field-of-a-pure-and-high-frequency/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [All cravings are the mind seeking salvation or fulfillment in external things and in the future as a substitute for the joy of Being.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/all-cravings-are-the-mind-seeking-salvation-or-fulfillment-in/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The insanity of the collective egoic mind, amplified by science and technology, is rapidly taking our species to the brink of disaster. Evolve or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-insanity-of-the-collective-egoic-mind-amplified-by-science-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I don't want it to end, and so, as every therapist knows, the ego does not want an end to its “problems” because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/i-don-t-want-it-to-end-and-so-as-every-therapist-knows-the-ego-does/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Body awareness not only anchors you in the present moment, it is a doorway out of the prison that is the ego. It also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/body-awareness-not-only-anchors-you-in-the-present-moment-it-is-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [By far the greater part of violence that humans inflicted on each other is not the work of criminals or mentally deranged, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/by-far-the-greater-part-of-violence-that-humans-inflicted-on-each/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [If the individuals who make up a group have personal egos, and their identities lie in these egos, then their egoic identities will shift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-the-individuals-who-make-up-a-group-have-personal-egos-and-their/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Eckhart Tolle > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“A powerful spiritual practice is consciously to allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. I recommend that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/a-powerful-spiritual-practice-is-consciously-to-allow-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [To become aware of the subtlety of nature you need to be alert. The moment you become alert you become still... thinking subsides. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-become-aware-of-the-subtlety-of-nature-you-need-to-be-alert-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/life-will-give-you-whatever-experience-is-most-helpful-for-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You may not yet be able to bring your unconscious mind activity into awareness as thoughts, but it will always be reflected in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-may-not-yet-be-able-to-bring-your-unconscious-mind-activity-into/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“War is a mind-set, and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy, the perceived evil, or, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/war-is-a-mind-set-and-all-action-that-comes-out-of-such-a-mind-set/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Get the inside right, and the outside will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/get-the-inside-right-and-the-outside-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-people-spend-their-entire-life-imprisoned-within-the-confines-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Let the end of the world be inside you, then you don't need to fear the end of the world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/let-the-end-of-the-world-be-inside-you-then-you-don-t-need-to-fear/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Jeste li zabrinuti? Razmišljate li često: »Što bi bilo da sam...?« To znači da ste se poistovjetili s umom, koji se projicira u neku…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/jeste-li-zabrinuti-razmi-ljate-li-esto-to-bi-bilo-da-sam-to-zna-i-da/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Explore all 1,493 Eckhart Tolle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More Ego quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [I love playing ego and insecurity combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-love-playing-ego-and-insecurity-combined/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-macht/i-m-a-straight-shooter-and-most-of-the-time-my-ego-doesn-t-interrupt/) [Gabriel Macht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-macht/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I hate acting when I see it. I don't want to feel it, I don't want to see it, I want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-acting-when-i-see-it-i-don-t-want-to-feel-it-i-don-t-want-to/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“... a man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/a-man-doesn-t-like-to-have-his-ego-popped-especially-when-he-prides/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [The man of wisdom is devoid of ego even though he may appear to use it. His vacant or fasting mind is neither doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-s-balsekar/the-man-of-wisdom-is-devoid-of-ego-even-though-he-may-appear-to-use/) [Ramesh S Balsekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-s-balsekar/) > [Show me success without ego!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivana-trump/show-me-success-without-ego/) [Ivana Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivana-trump/) [Browse all 3,462 Ego quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ego always looks toward the next moment for some kind of fulfillment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eckhart Tolle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-moment-for-some-kind-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ego" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-moment-for-some-kind-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/eckhart-tolle-81_ego_the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-mom_3073898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ego always looks toward the next moment for some kind of fulfillment.” — Eckhart Tolle", "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": "Eckhart Tolle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ego always looks toward the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-moment-for-some-kind-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-ego-always-looks-toward-the-next-moment-for-some-kind-of/#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 } } ] } ```