--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is an operation which is done in a…" description: "\"Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. The past will not tell us what we ought to do, but what we ought to avoid.\" — Edwin Mamerto" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/edwin-mamerto-4738_forward_life-is-an-operation-which-is-done-in-a_3121639.jpg" --- # Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction… ![“Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. The past will not tell us what we ought to do, but what we ought to avoid.” quote by Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/edwin-mamerto-4738_forward_life-is-an-operation-which-is-done-in-a_3121639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/edwin-mamerto-4738_forward_life-is-an-operation-which-is-done-in-a_3121639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/edwin-mamerto-4738_forward_life-is-an-operation-which-is-done-in-a_3121639.jpg) > “Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. The past will not tell us what we ought to do, but what we ought to avoid.” [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The past offers lessons on what to avoid, not guidance on future actions; focus forward. **In simple terms:** Learn from past mistakes, move ahead. Key Takeaway Use past errors as warnings, not blueprints. Themes growth reflection future orientation learning Mood thoughtful motivational Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal relationships - habit formation - risk assessment Key Concepts self-improvement historical awareness decision making Questions to Reflect On - What past patterns do you need to let go? - How can you balance caution with ambition? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past negatives can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Direction Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction-past-3009338/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Operation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-operation-1249555/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Time is not a single train, moving in one direction at a constant speed. Every so often it meets another train coming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-magris/time-is-not-a-single-train-moving-in-one-direction-at-a-constant/) [Claudio Magris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-magris/) > [Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. One lives toward the future, because to live consists inexorably in doing, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/life-is-an-operation-which-is-done-in-a-forward-direction-one-lives/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Grant us more powers, not less; grant us more democracy, not less; grant us the tools to move forward because, I can assure you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/grant-us-more-powers-not-less-grant-us-more-democracy-not-less-grant/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [I don't want to keep looking back in the past. I want to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/i-don-t-want-to-keep-looking-back-in-the-past-i-want-to-move-forward/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/the-only-thing-a-person-can-ever-really-do-is-keep-moving-forward/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [“The past is only making you to spill tears, tears of joy or tears pain. But anyway they are making you sad, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-a/the-past-is-only-making-you-to-spill-tears-tears-of-joy-or-tears-pain/) [T.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-a/) > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I really tried to put my best foot forward all these years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/i-really-tried-to-put-my-best-foot-forward-all-these-years/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [Don't let anything holds you back, not even your loved ones. YOU must keep moving forward, NOT backwards!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia/don-t-let-anything-holds-you-back-not-even-your-loved-ones-you-must/) [Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia/) > [The further forward we go, the further back we have to explore in order to go forward again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gardiner/the-further-forward-we-go-the-further-back-we-have-to-explore-in/) [Stephen Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gardiner/) > [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) ## More by Edwin Mamerto > [When you are content to be simply yourself, and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you. Live simply that others may simply live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/when-you-are-content-to-be-simply-yourself-and-don-t-compare-or/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [It is not the depth of our feelings that hurts us the most, but the strength of our resistance. Sometimes we have to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/it-is-not-the-depth-of-our-feelings-that-hurts-us-the-most-but-the/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Whatever we're engage in in life, be bold! That's one way of getting through life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/whatever-we-re-engage-in-in-life-be-bold-that-s-one-way-of-getting/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [A man of action is always in motion, changing, moving, failing, learning, shining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/a-man-of-action-is-always-in-motion-changing-moving-failing-learning/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [It is only through experience that some people succeed in knowing themselves, in finding them selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/it-is-only-through-experience-that-some-people-succeed-in-knowing/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [To do so is to fulfill our finest nature, to do less is to lose our chance to experience the full meaning of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/to-do-so-is-to-fulfill-our-finest-nature-to-do-less-is-to-lose-our/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Life is not a problem to be solved but an enigma to be lived. We think, we feel, therefore we exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/life-is-not-a-problem-to-be-solved-but-an-enigma-to-be-lived-we-think/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Do not be afraid to be different. Every man is born to do something unique and something distinctive, and if we do not do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/do-not-be-afraid-to-be-different-every-man-is-born-to-do-something/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [There are two types of people in this world, those who see things happen and those who make things happen. Possible is possible when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-this-world-those-who-see-things/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Sometimes in life we don't necessarily have to have the best of everything. But we can make the most of everything that comes along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/sometimes-in-life-we-don-t-necessarily-have-to-have-the-best-of/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Positive attitude may not solve all our problems, but our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us. Attitude is a little thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/positive-attitude-may-not-solve-all-our-problems-but-our-attitude/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [The way to overcome the darkness of our fear, confusion and suffering is by shining the light on all that we think, feel, say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/the-way-to-overcome-the-darkness-of-our-fear-confusion-and-suffering/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Sometimes it's not the load that breaks us down, it's the way we carry it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/sometimes-it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-us-down-it-s-the-way-we-carry/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Have courage to face life cheerfully! Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/have-courage-to-face-life-cheerfully-be-who-you-are-and-say-what-you/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Letting go doesn't always mean that we are weak. Sometimes it means that we are strong enough to let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/letting-go-doesn-t-always-mean-that-we-are-weak-sometimes-it-means/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) [Explore all 107 Edwin Mamerto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) ## More Forward quotes > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The further forward we go, the further back we have to explore in order to go forward again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gardiner/the-further-forward-we-go-the-further-back-we-have-to-explore-in/) [Stephen Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gardiner/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Don't let anything holds you back, not even your loved ones. YOU must keep moving forward, NOT backwards!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia/don-t-let-anything-holds-you-back-not-even-your-loved-ones-you-must/) [Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I really tried to put my best foot forward all these years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/i-really-tried-to-put-my-best-foot-forward-all-these-years/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [In today's day and age, one looks forward to experimenting and it pays off at times and at times it doesn't. This does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/in-today-s-day-and-age-one-looks-forward-to-experimenting-and-it-pays/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [“I'm sure if you go forward, that something you'll find it, you'll find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaejin-insoo/i-m-sure-if-you-go-forward-that-something-you-ll-find-it-you-ll-find/) [Chaejin Insoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaejin-insoo/) > [I'm really looking forward to a time when generations after us look back and say how ridiculous it was that humans were driving cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-a-time-when-generations-after-us-look/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) [Browse all 3,019 Forward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. 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