--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They did not know what we can now sense…" description: "\"They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it shows in our lives...\" — Fran..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg" --- # They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate… ![“They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it shows in our lives...” quote by Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg) > “They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it shows in our lives...” [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal transformation precedes observable societal change; inner shifts foreshadow external events. **In simple terms:** Change starts inside before it appears outside. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner growth to influence outer outcomes. Themes self‑development societal change inner awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - leadership development - social activism - mental health practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology causality Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture inner change when external results are delayed? - What inner shifts have you noticed before a major life event? A Different Perspective Inner change may be invisible to others, limiting immediate impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begins Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begins-soul-905042/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-begins-389985/) [Contemplating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplating/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-change-809280/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Sense Contemplate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-contemplate-1806405/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [They did not know what we can now guess at, contemplating the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-guess-at-contemplating-the-course/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Life begins before a soul is born and commences once again with the act of dying, and as in the Afro-Asian symbol of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/life-begins-before-a-soul-is-born-and-commences-once-again-with-the/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [It all begins when the soul would have its way with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-all-begins-when-the-soul-would-have-its-way-with-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-laing/we-live-in-a-moment-of-history-where-change-is-so-speeded-up-that-we/) [R. D. Laing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-laing/) > [The past is history. I can't change any of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/the-past-is-history-i-can-t-change-any-of-that/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [“The butterfly effect deals in the tendency of infinitesimal variations to amplify over time. ""You never play around with history, because the change you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-johansen/the-butterfly-effect-deals-in-the-tendency-of-infinitesimal/) [Erika Johansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-johansen/) > [“One life and another: that’s what matters. You have to understand: history can change people, but people can change history too. Because what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/one-life-and-another-that-s-what-matters-you-have-to-understand/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [For any student of history, change is the law of life. Any attempt to contain it guarantees an explosion down the road; the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/for-any-student-of-history-change-is-the-law-of-life-any-attempt-to/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [You may not be able to change the events of your history, but you can change the story you've attached to those events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chan/you-may-not-be-able-to-change-the-events-of-your-history-but-you-can/) [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) > [“You told me once that history matters, but it's frozen, set in stone. This is part of our history. I can't change it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack-finding-it/you-told-me-once-that-history-matters-but-it-s-frozen-set-in-stone/) [Cora Carmack Finding It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack-finding-it/) > [History is change happening one person at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/history-is-change-happening-one-person-at-a-time/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [A lot of things in history change over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/a-lot-of-things-in-history-change-over-time/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [We have learned from history that change is never easy, that it usually doesn't look pretty, especially in today's politically-charged environment where intent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/we-have-learned-from-history-that-change-is-never-easy-that-it/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [You can't change past history. But, you can change the future's history by cleansing your soul today. Forget, forgive, and love passionately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majdi-rabah/you-can-t-change-past-history-but-you-can-change-the-future-s-history/) [Majdi Rabah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majdi-rabah/) > [If you can't change history, then let history change you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-swazy/if-you-can-t-change-history-then-let-history-change-you/) [Arnold Swazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-swazy/) ## More by Franz Kafka > [ “The tremendous world I have inside my head. But how \[to\] free myself and free it without being torn to pieces. And a thousand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-tremendous-world-i-have-inside-my-head-but-how-to-free-myself-and/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [What I write is different from what I say, what I say is different from what I think, what I think is different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/what-i-write-is-different-from-what-i-say-what-i-say-is-different/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Ali svi se slažu u tome da se ne podižu lakomislene optužbe i da se sud, kad jedanput nekog optuži i kad je uvjeren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/ali-svi-se-sla-u-u-tome-da-se-ne-podi-u-lakomislene-optu-be-i-da-se/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [My job is unbearable to me because it conflicts with my only desire and my only calling, which is literature. Since I am nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/my-job-is-unbearable-to-me-because-it-conflicts-with-my-only-desire/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Faith, like a guillotine. As heavy, as light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/faith-like-a-guillotine-as-heavy-as-light/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [You need not even listen, just wait...the world will offer itself freely to you, unmasking itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/you-need-not-even-listen-just-wait-the-world-will-offer-itself-freely/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“I will cross hundreds of seas and oceans without sinking to reach you, see your eyes and sink completely into their depths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-will-cross-hundreds-of-seas-and-oceans-without-sinking-to-reach-you/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [I have no memory for things I have learned, nor things I have read, nor things experienced or heard, neither for people nor events;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-have-no-memory-for-things-i-have-learned-nor-things-i-have-read-nor/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“This sounds crazy, but it is so. Nor is it perhaps really love when I say that for me you are the most beloved;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/this-sounds-crazy-but-it-is-so-nor-is-it-perhaps-really-love-when-i/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [The more horses you yoke the quicker everything will go - not the rending of the block from its foundation, which is impossible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-more-horses-you-yoke-the-quicker-everything-will-go-not-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Martyrs do not underrate the body, they allow it to be elevated on the cross. In this they are at one with their antagonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/martyrs-do-not-underrate-the-body-they-allow-it-to-be-elevated-on-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [The true way goes over a line that, rather than spanning heights, is hardly above the ground. It appears more decidedly to make one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-true-way-goes-over-a-line-that-rather-than-spanning-heights-is/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Every new discovery is assumed at once into the sum total of knowledge, and with that ceases in a sense to be a discovery;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/every-new-discovery-is-assumed-at-once-into-the-sum-total-of/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Sou de pedra. Sou a minha própria pedra tumular, sem nenhum interstício para a dúvida ou para a fé, para o amor ou para…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/sou-de-pedra-sou-a-minha-pr-pria-pedra-tumular-sem-nenhum-interst-cio/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) [Explore all 741 Franz Kafka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it shows in our lives...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franz Kafka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense-as-we-contemplate-the-course/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense-as-we-contemplate-the-course/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/franz-kafka-214_change_they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense_2584506.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate the course of history: that change begins in the…” — Franz Kafka", "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": "Franz Kafka", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They did not know what we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense-as-we-contemplate-the-course/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/they-did-not-know-what-we-can-now-sense-as-we-contemplate-the-course/#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 } } ] } ```