--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is good to look to the past to gain…" description: "\"“It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/gerald-lund-71192_gratitude_it-is-good-to-look-to-the-past-to-gain-a_2486719.jpg" --- # It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for… ![“It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon thw work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in…” quote by Gerald Lund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/gerald-lund-71192_gratitude_it-is-good-to-look-to-the-past-to-gain-a_2486719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/gerald-lund-71192_gratitude_it-is-good-to-look-to-the-past-to-gain-a_2486719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/gerald-lund-71192_gratitude_it-is-good-to-look-to-the-past-to-gain-a_2486719.jpg) > ““It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon thw work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this worls, but out of whose dreams and early plans, so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for us all. Gordon B. Hinckley”” Gerald Lund ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on past struggles honors predecessors, builds present gratitude, and guides future actions. **In simple terms:** Learning from history builds strength. Key Takeaway Study history to inspire present purpose. Themes history gratitude legacy Mood inspirational thoughtful Type religious motivational When to use this quote - education - leadership - community building Key Concepts spiritual growth motivation Questions to Reflect On - What lessons from history can you apply today? - How can you balance reverence with progress? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past may neglect present innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It is good to LOOK to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the FUTURE. It is good to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/it-is-good-to-look-to-the-past-to-gain-appreciation-for-the-present/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/it-is-good-to-look-to-the-past-to-gain-appreciation-for-the-present-3/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [What is important is using one's talent, intellect and energy in order to gain an appreciation and affection for people and place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/what-is-important-is-using-one-s-talent-intellect-and-energy-in-order/) [Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/) > [“This would be a Zen-like state of productivity, in which you deal with what’s present from a perspective that is both detached and fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/this-would-be-a-zen-like-state-of-productivity-in-which-you-deal-with/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [It's good to reflect on life and take a step back and sit and relax and do something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floor-jansen/it-s-good-to-reflect-on-life-and-take-a-step-back-and-sit-and-relax/) [Floor Jansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floor-jansen/) > [When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-you-see-a-good-person-think-of-becoming-like-her-him-when-you/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [But if you're doing something and you don't know why you're doing it, then it's good to reflect on the intentionality behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/but-if-you-re-doing-something-and-you-don-t-know-why-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [“I know what it is to look at your past, and see nothing more than your mistakes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-gaughen/i-know-what-it-is-to-look-at-your-past-and-see-nothing-more-than-your/) [A.C. Gaughen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-gaughen/) > [Don't look into the past look into the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-look-into-the-past-look-into-the-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You have to look past the beauty to see the ugliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nath-jones/you-have-to-look-past-the-beauty-to-see-the-ugliness/) Nath Jones > [There is a way to look at the past. Don't hide from it. It will not catch you if you don't repeat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-bailey/there-is-a-way-to-look-at-the-past-don-t-hide-from-it-it-will-not/) [Pearl Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-bailey/) > [I look back into past history, the stored experiences or products of the imagination. I look no further forward than the evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerzy-kosi-ski/i-look-back-into-past-history-the-stored-experiences-or-products-of/) [Jerzy Kosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerzy-kosi-ski/) > [We should always look back on our own past with a sort of contempt, as long as the tenderness is there - but please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-potter/we-should-always-look-back-on-our-own-past-with-a-sort-of-contempt-as/) [Dennis Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-potter/) > [It is as good as second life to be able to look back upon our past life with pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/it-is-as-good-as-second-life-to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-our-past/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [When you continue to dwell on the past, there's no chance for a future. History repeats itself, thus, it's ok to LOOK back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-continue-to-dwell-on-the-past-there-s-no-chance-for-a-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gerald Lund > [“If accusations fit your prejudices, truth is easily pushed aside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-lund/if-accusations-fit-your-prejudices-truth-is-easily-pushed-aside/) Gerald Lund > [“I withdrew a small card from the pouch. The front of it was filled with lines of elegant, hand-lettered script. "What does it say?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-lund/i-withdrew-a-small-card-from-the-pouch-the-front-of-it-was-filled/) Gerald Lund > [“Joshua walked to the back of the tent.Caroline and Savannah were there but had their backs to him. They were bent over,an he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-lund/joshua-walked-to-the-back-of-the-tent-caroline-and-savannah-were/) Gerald Lund Explore all 4 Gerald Lund quotes ## More Gratitude quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [“A treacherous President stood in the way; and it can be easily seen how reluctant good men might be to admit an apostasy which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-treacherous-president-stood-in-the-way-and-it-can-be-easily-seen/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [“Thanks for teaching us to talk. Thanks for teaching us to be of the world and in the world and to make our way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-isay/thanks-for-teaching-us-to-talk-thanks-for-teaching-us-to-be-of-the/) [Dave Isay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-isay/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I want to thank each and every one of you for having extinguished yourselves this session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gib-lewis/i-want-to-thank-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-having-extinguished/) [Gib Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gib-lewis/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Browse all 9,111 Gratitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. 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