--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not argue about what happened in…" description: "\"“We do not argue about what happened in the past but discuss what we desire for the future.”\" — Esmé Raji Codell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg" --- # We do not argue about what happened in the past but… ![“We do not argue about what happened in the past but discuss what we desire for the future.” quote by Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg) > ““We do not argue about what happened in the past but discuss what we desire for the future.”” [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on future aspirations rather than past events encourages proactive planning and shared vision. **In simple terms:** Focus on future goals, not past events. Key Takeaway Prioritize future desires together. Themes education future planning collaboration Mood forward-looking collaborative Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - strategic planning - personal development Key Concepts goal setting visionary thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can past lessons shape future goals? - What shared visions motivate you? A Different Perspective Past experiences can inform future decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-future-304358/) [Discuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discuss/) [Discuss Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discuss-desire-4837196/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Past Discuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-discuss-4837195/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I desire no future that will break the ties with the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-desire-no-future-that-will-break-the-ties-with-the-past/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Today, and let us celebrate this fact, We can eat the light of our beloved, warmed by compassion or cooled by intellectual feeling. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-wilson/today-and-let-us-celebrate-this-fact-we-can-eat-the-light-of-our/) [William S. 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In capitalism what is engineered is longing, engineered longing and desire in us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/the-paradise-is-here-paradise-is-right-in-front-of-us-in-capitalism/) [Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/) > [You have to change your thinking if you desire to have a future different from your present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/you-have-to-change-your-thinking-if-you-desire-to-have-a-future/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [There are two futures, the future of desire and the future of fate, and man's reason has never learnt to separate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-futures-the-future-of-desire-and-the-future-of-fate-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything you do today will affect your future in some way. Make the best decisions for you in present so you achieve all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/everything-you-do-today-will-affect-your-future-in-some-way-make-the/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“I desire no future that will break the ties of the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-desire-no-future-that-will-break-the-ties-of-the-past/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [For me, Art is the restoration of order. 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Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I don't like to discuss my work in a lot of detail; I'm afraid of dissecting it in a way that is not good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-don-t-like-to-discuss-my-work-in-a-lot-of-detail-i-m-afraid-of/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I have a social life. But I don't discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-have-a-social-life-but-i-don-t-discuss-it/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I don't wanna discuss about it - People who want to discuss about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-don-t-wanna-discuss-about-it-people-who-want-to-discuss-about-it/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by Esmé Raji Codell > [“Nobody really knows which is happening when the teacher closes the door. At worst, mediocrity. At best, miracles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/nobody-really-knows-which-is-happening-when-the-teacher-closes-the/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [A library is a platform upon which we catch trains to Every Where and Any Place, Another Time and Across Space. All aboard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/a-library-is-a-platform-upon-which-we-catch-trains-to-every-where-and/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“And when you go to God's house, it ain't got to be no fashion show. You just come as you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/and-when-you-go-to-god-s-house-it-ain-t-got-to-be-no-fashion-show-you/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [But certain people just think it's their job to freak out. As long as they're freaking out, they feel busy, like they must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/but-certain-people-just-think-it-s-their-job-to-freak-out-as-long-as/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“I tend not to share things unnecessarily with those I despise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/i-tend-not-to-share-things-unnecessarily-with-those-i-despise/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [If you give people an idea these days, they just think you are sharing it with them so they can critique it, play devil's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/if-you-give-people-an-idea-these-days-they-just-think-you-are-sharing/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“Why do these dumb fucks keep guns around the house? They make the world as ruinous as they imagine it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/why-do-these-dumb-fucks-keep-guns-around-the-house-they-make-the/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [The goal is not necessarily to succeed but to keep trying, to be the kind of person who has ideas and see them through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/the-goal-is-not-necessarily-to-succeed-but-to-keep-trying-to-be-the/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“Today so many creative and devoted teachers not only have to struggle against unimaginative administrations, fearful parents, and wearied colleagues, they have also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/today-so-many-creative-and-devoted-teachers-not-only-have-to-struggle/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“So much of teaching is sharing. Learning results in sharing, sharing results in change, change is learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/so-much-of-teaching-is-sharing-learning-results-in-sharing-sharing/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“So much of teaching is sharing. Learning results in sharing, sharing results in change, change is learning. The only other job with so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/so-much-of-teaching-is-sharing-learning-results-in-sharing-sharing-2/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [So much of teaching is sharing. Learning results in sharing, sharing results in change, change is learning. The only other job with so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/so-much-of-teaching-is-sharing-learning-results-in-sharing-sharing-3/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“The difference between a beginning teacher and an experienced one is that the beginning teacher asks, "How am I doing?" and the experienced teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/the-difference-between-a-beginning-teacher-and-an-experienced-one-is/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“Mr. Turner gets mad when I say, “I don’t work for you, I work for the children.” But it’s true. Isn’t it? I’ll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/mr-turner-gets-mad-when-i-say-i-don-t-work-for-you-i-work-for-the/) [Esmé Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [“It's not our job to be liked(teachers)", I reminded her. "Its our job to help them be smart(students)". Secretly, I thought, who gives a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/it-s-not-our-job-to-be-liked-teachers-i-reminded-her-its-our-job-to/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) [Explore all 22 Esmé Raji Codell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) ## More Discuss quotes > [I don't wanna discuss about it - People who want to discuss about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-don-t-wanna-discuss-about-it-people-who-want-to-discuss-about-it/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I have a social life. But I don't discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-have-a-social-life-but-i-don-t-discuss-it/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I don't like to discuss my work in a lot of detail; I'm afraid of dissecting it in a way that is not good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-don-t-like-to-discuss-my-work-in-a-lot-of-detail-i-m-afraid-of/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [“There was a Princess Somebody of Denmark sitting at a table with a number of people around her, and I saw an empty chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-was-a-princess-somebody-of-denmark-sitting-at-a-table-with-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I don't discuss my own beliefs in public, but I will say the beliefs I've given my characters do not necessarily represent what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-don-t-discuss-my-own-beliefs-in-public-but-i-will-say-the-beliefs-i/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [For me, Art is the restoration of order. It may discuss all sort of terrible things, but there must be satisfaction at the end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/for-me-art-is-the-restoration-of-order-it-may-discuss-all-sort-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I’m not crazy to discuss fashion with men. I couldn’t care less about their opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/i-m-not-crazy-to-discuss-fashion-with-men-i-couldn-t-care-less-about/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“And slowly a discussion begins - as Morrie has wanted all along - about the effect of silence on human relations. Why are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/and-slowly-a-discussion-begins-as-morrie-has-wanted-all-along-about/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I say that why don't we bring all points of view. Sit around a table and discuss this evidence, and produce evidence as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-say-that-why-don-t-we-bring-all-points-of-view-sit-around-a-table/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I tried to go to Kosovo to establish a statue to commemorate those who died during the wars, and to discuss moving on, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-dacic/i-tried-to-go-to-kosovo-to-establish-a-statue-to-commemorate-those/) [Ivica Dacic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-dacic/) > [“It can be difficult to find common ground when all some wish to discuss is our differences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-a-savastano/it-can-be-difficult-to-find-common-ground-when-all-some-wish-to/) [C.A.A. Savastano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-a-savastano/) > [I give boring people something to discuss over corn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-give-boring-people-something-to-discuss-over-corn/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [I've talked to many individuals who want to discuss their problems. But they don't really have problems. They have chosen to live in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-ve-talked-to-many-individuals-who-want-to-discuss-their-problems/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [But I don't really like to discuss Phil anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-spector/but-i-don-t-really-like-to-discuss-phil-anymore/) [Ronnie Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-spector/) [Browse all 283 Discuss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discuss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We do not argue about what happened in the past but discuss what we desire for the future.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Esmé Raji Codell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-the-past-but-discuss-what-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discuss" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-the-past-but-discuss-what-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/esm-raji-codell-26371_discuss_we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-t_3012360.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We do not argue about what happened in the past but discuss what we desire for the future.” — Esmé Raji Codell", "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": "Esmé Raji Codell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We do not argue about what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-the-past-but-discuss-what-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/we-do-not-argue-about-what-happened-in-the-past-but-discuss-what-we/#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 } } ] } ```