--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who are in love with the present…" description: "\"Those who are in love with the present can be cruel and corrupt but not genuinely vicious. They cannot be methodically and consistently ruthless.\" — Er..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/eric-hoffer-343_consistently_those-who-are-in-love-with-the-present-c_2018699.jpg" --- # Those who are in love with the present can be cruel and… ![“Those who are in love with the present can be cruel and corrupt but not genuinely vicious. They cannot be methodically and consistently ruthless.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/eric-hoffer-343_consistently_those-who-are-in-love-with-the-present-c_2018699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/eric-hoffer-343_consistently_those-who-are-in-love-with-the-present-c_2018699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/eric-hoffer-343_consistently_those-who-are-in-love-with-the-present-c_2018699.jpg) > “Those who are in love with the present can be cruel and corrupt but not genuinely vicious. They cannot be methodically and consistently ruthless.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Loving the present limits cruelty; present‑focused people lack systematic ruthlessness. **In simple terms:** Present love reduces systematic cruelty. Key Takeaway Value present while guarding against complacency. Themes presentism morality cruelty Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - leadership decisions - policy making - personal relationships Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does present love affect moral judgments? - Can present‑focused people become ruthless? A Different Perspective Present focus can blind one to future consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistently/) [Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupt/) [Corrupt Genuinely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupt-genuinely-3645003/) [Cruel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel/) [Cruel Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel-corrupt-3645001/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Present Cruel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-cruel-3645002/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless/) [Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicious/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, and most ruthless champion there's ever been. There's no one can stop me. Lennox…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-m-the-best-ever-i-m-the-most-brutal-and-vicious-and-most-ruthless/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Fact check: The examples of failed socialism that critics use are not socialist democracies but authoritarian states led by corrupt, ruthless, and paranoid dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaboukie-young-white/fact-check-the-examples-of-failed-socialism-that-critics-use-are-not/) [Jaboukie Young-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaboukie-young-white/) > [FREE animals of the jungle/air/sea/mountains are called 'wild', 'savage', 'vicious', 'beasts' who defend themselves and their own territories from greedy, ruthless 'brave' men armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adela-popescu/free-animals-of-the-jungle-air-sea-mountains-are-called-wild-savage/) [Adela Popescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adela-popescu/) > [“Some people are in such utter darkness that they will burn you just to see a light. Try not to take it personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/some-people-are-in-such-utter-darkness-that-they-will-burn-you-just/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [To be ruthless requires belief that our life on earth is but a brief prelude to an afterlife, or a temporary sacrifice before some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/to-be-ruthless-requires-belief-that-our-life-on-earth-is-but-a-brief/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Deathstroke is the dark-mirror version of Batman, basically. He is every bit as resourceful, every bit as ruthless, every bit as powerful as Batman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/deathstroke-is-the-dark-mirror-version-of-batman-basically-he-is/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [Look at these ISIS people. These people are ruthless. They don't operate by any sort of normal civilized code. 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But it was too fast for him, so when I rapped it, they was like, 'Man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-ren/ruthless-villain-was-supposed-to-be-e-s-song-but-it-was-too-fast-for/) [MC Ren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-ren/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Chicago, to me, is the best wrestling crowd on the planet. They are the best. They are loud, they are ruthless, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/chicago-to-me-is-the-best-wrestling-crowd-on-the-planet-they-are-the/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [Many people, including myself, thought of Jobs as an inventor, an Edison-like figure, but he wasn't. I did a documentary on James Brown recently;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/many-people-including-myself-thought-of-jobs-as-an-inventor-an-edison/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [My old man was ruthless. He terrorised us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hunt/my-old-man-was-ruthless-he-terrorised-us/) [Mark Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hunt/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. 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Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Consistently quotes > [I have always worked really hard off the court. I think it's helped me play more consistently on the tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-draper/i-have-always-worked-really-hard-off-the-court-i-think-it-s-helped-me/) [Jack Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-draper/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) [J. Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hoberman/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [If I do the same thing consistently, no matter how I feel, I'm probably going to produce a consistent result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/if-i-do-the-same-thing-consistently-no-matter-how-i-feel-i-m-probably/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [I think if you look all across the country, the so-called Blue Dogs are all gone to kennel. There are no more Blue Dogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-if-you-look-all-across-the-country-the-so-called-blue-dogs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If you see someone lying out knives and forks consistently, but then one day those knives and forks become weapons you're not sure if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/if-you-see-someone-lying-out-knives-and-forks-consistently-but-then/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I'm fortunate in one way and I can take pride from the fact that I've consistently performed for 10 years, which is something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/i-m-fortunate-in-one-way-and-i-can-take-pride-from-the-fact-that-i-ve/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [“Leadership is producing a standard in someone that they will live by to produce higher level results consistently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/leadership-is-producing-a-standard-in-someone-that-they-will-live-by/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [One of the great qualities of Chancellor Merkel is that she is steady. 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Loehr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-loehr/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Vision gets the dreams started. Dreaming employs your God-given imagination to reinforce the vision. Both are part of something I believe is absolutely necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmitt-smith/vision-gets-the-dreams-started-dreaming-employs-your-god-given/) [Emmitt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmitt-smith/) > [Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/success-doesn-t-come-from-what-you-do-occasionally-it-comes-from-what/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) [Browse all 868 Consistently quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistently/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who are in love with the present can be cruel and corrupt but not genuinely vicious. 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