--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wishing for the impossible in the future…" description: "\"“Wishing for the impossible in the future is a good exercise, I think, especially for children; wishing for it in the past is surely the emptiest and s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/edgar-pangborn-53731_children_wishing-for-the-impossible-in-the-future_1973732.jpg" --- # Wishing for the impossible in the future is a good… ![“Wishing for the impossible in the future is a good exercise, I think, especially for children; wishing for it in the past is surely the emptiest and saddest of occupations.” quote by Edgar Pangborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/edgar-pangborn-53731_children_wishing-for-the-impossible-in-the-future_1973732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/edgar-pangborn-53731_children_wishing-for-the-impossible-in-the-future_1973732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/edgar-pangborn-53731_children_wishing-for-the-impossible-in-the-future_1973732.jpg) > ““Wishing for the impossible in the future is a good exercise, I think, especially for children; wishing for it in the past is surely the emptiest and saddest of occupations.”” [Edgar Pangborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-pangborn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wishing for impossible futures fuels imagination, while longing for impossible pasts leads to emptiness. **In simple terms:** Future wishes inspire; past wishes depress. Key Takeaway Focus imagination hopeful futures, not unattainable pasts. Themes imagination hope regret Mood hopeful thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - education - mental health Key Concepts future orientation creative thinking Questions to Reflect On - What future goals inspire you? - How can past reflections be constructive? A Different Perspective It may undervalue the value of learning from history. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-wishing-1067368/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Good exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-exercise/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-future-1035580/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Saddest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddest/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/) [Wishing Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing-impossible-3329963/) [Wishing Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing-past-359247/) ## Related quotes > [As children are wishing to be grown up, adults are wishing to be children again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/as-children-are-wishing-to-be-grown-up-adults-are-wishing-to-be/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [All around the world, there are children wishing they had some cool sneakers like you do. 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The exercise in the fresh air, the chance to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/not-only-is-bowhunting-fun-and-a-real-challenge-but-it-s-good-for-you/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) ## More by Edgar Pangborn > [“The old grim story so many times enacted – for the poor human race has always longed for a Redeemer to take up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-pangborn/the-old-grim-story-so-many-times-enacted-for-the-poor-human-race-has/) [Edgar Pangborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-pangborn/) > [And how are you going to make education easy? 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