--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I shall give less thought to the…" description: "\"But I shall give less thought to the future, I shall work in the present. I feel such work is within my power. For I only succeed in small things, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/georges-bernanos-7838_anxiety_but-i-shall-give-less-thought-to-the-fut_2200734.jpg" --- # But I shall give less thought to the future, I shall work… ![“But I shall give less thought to the future, I shall work in the present. I feel such work is within my power. For I only succeed in small things, and when I am tried by anxiety, I am bound to say it is the small joys that release me.” quote by Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/georges-bernanos-7838_anxiety_but-i-shall-give-less-thought-to-the-fut_2200734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/georges-bernanos-7838_anxiety_but-i-shall-give-less-thought-to-the-fut_2200734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/georges-bernanos-7838_anxiety_but-i-shall-give-less-thought-to-the-fut_2200734.jpg) > “But I shall give less thought to the future, I shall work in the present. I feel such work is within my power. For I only succeed in small things, and when I am tried by anxiety, I am bound to say it is the small joys that release me.” [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) ## 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 present actions and small successes; they empower you and alleviate anxiety. **In simple terms:** Live now, cherish small joys. Key Takeaway Prioritize present work. Themes present mindfulness joy Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily tasks - creative projects - stress relief - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism self-efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What small thing can you do today? - How does present focus calm anxiety? A Different Perspective Neglecting future planning can cause insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Small joys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-joys/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you dissemble sometimes your knowledge of that you are thought to know, you shall be thought, another time, to know that you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-you-dissemble-sometimes-your-knowledge-of-that-you-are-thought-to/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“How shall I ever sleep again knowing she is out there in the night? How shall I ever keep another thought in my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/how-shall-i-ever-sleep-again-knowing-she-is-out-there-in-the-night/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [When right, I shall often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-right-i-shall-often-be-thought-wrong-by-those-whose-positions/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Moments are so fleeting; I want to hold on to the good ones. When I am truly present, I feel alive, and I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/moments-are-so-fleeting-i-want-to-hold-on-to-the-good-ones-when-i-am/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I feel happy about the songs I've written. I'm a great lover of the craft of songwriting, and I sure admire it in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/i-feel-happy-about-the-songs-i-ve-written-i-m-a-great-lover-of-the/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [Nothing is real except the present, and already, I feel the weight of centuries smothering me. Some girl a hundred years ago once lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/nothing-is-real-except-the-present-and-already-i-feel-the-weight-of/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“It is always easy for those living in the present to feel superior to those who lived in the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-mann/it-is-always-easy-for-those-living-in-the-present-to-feel-superior-to/) [Charles C. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-mann/) > [Die to the past every moment. You don't need it. Only refer to it when it is absolutely relevant to the present. Feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/die-to-the-past-every-moment-you-don-t-need-it-only-refer-to-it-when/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I love just being in the moment, and the most present I feel in my work is with theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-love-just-being-in-the-moment-and-the-most-present-i-feel-in-my/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [“With me, the present is forever and forever is always shifting, flowing, melting. This second is life. And when it is gone it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/with-me-the-present-is-forever-and-forever-is-always-shifting-flowing-2/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [When I am truly present, I feel alive, and I want everyone around me to share that feeling so we can make the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/when-i-am-truly-present-i-feel-alive-and-i-want-everyone-around-me-to/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [“With 6 children Darya Alexandrovna could not be calm. One got sick, another might get sick, a third lacked something, a fourth showed signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/with-6-children-darya-alexandrovna-could-not-be-calm-one-got-sick/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The enthusiastic massacre began once more. She did love the children. Children were one of her small joys, even when they were fiends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/the-enthusiastic-massacre-began-once-more-she-did-love-the-children/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“...those children were already beginning to repay her care by affording her small joys. These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/those-children-were-already-beginning-to-repay-her-care-by-affording/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Happiness. We're tearing our hair out to try to find a definition of it, for heaven's sake. Is it joy? People will tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/happiness-we-re-tearing-our-hair-out-to-try-to-find-a-definition-of/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) ## More by Georges Bernanos > [Fact is Our Lord knew all about the power of money: He gave capitalism a tiny niche in His scheme of things, He gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/fact-is-our-lord-knew-all-about-the-power-of-money-he-gave-capitalism/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [I know the compassion of others is a relief at first. I don't despise it. But it can't quench pain, it slips through your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/i-know-the-compassion-of-others-is-a-relief-at-first-i-don-t-despise/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Optimism approves of everything, submits to everything, believes everything; it is the virtue above all of the taxpayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/optimism-approves-of-everything-submits-to-everything-believes/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [There is nothing that God hates so much as a liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/there-is-nothing-that-god-hates-so-much-as-a-liar/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [I have done no passably decent job in this world which did not at first seem to me useless - absurdly useless, useless to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/i-have-done-no-passably-decent-job-in-this-world-which-did-not-at/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [A man given to vice is always an idealist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/a-man-given-to-vice-is-always-an-idealist/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Hell is not to love anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/hell-is-not-to-love-anymore/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [I have just discovered something I have always known: we can no more escape from one another than we can escape from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/i-have-just-discovered-something-i-have-always-known-we-can-no-more/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Truth is meant to save you first, and the comfort comes afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/truth-is-meant-to-save-you-first-and-the-comfort-comes-afterward/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Justice in the hands of the powerful is merely a governing system like any other. Why call it justice? Let us rather call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/justice-in-the-hands-of-the-powerful-is-merely-a-governing-system/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Chantal's only ruse ... was her shattering simplicity. While a weak man or an imposter is always more complicated than the problem he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/chantal-s-only-ruse-was-her-shattering-simplicity-while-a-weak-man-or/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Suicide only really frightens those who are never tempted by it and never will be, for its darkness only welcomes those who are predestined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/suicide-only-really-frightens-those-who-are-never-tempted-by-it-and/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Money-crimes have an abstract quality. History is laden with the victims of gold, but their remains are odourless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/money-crimes-have-an-abstract-quality-history-is-laden-with-the/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Faith is not a thing which one loses, we merely cease to shape our lives by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/faith-is-not-a-thing-which-one-loses-we-merely-cease-to-shape-our/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [Hell, madame, is to love no longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/hell-madame-is-to-love-no-longer/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) [Explore all 77 Georges Bernanos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But I shall give less thought to the future, I shall work in the present. 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