--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no gratitude for things past…" description: "\"There is no gratitude for things past. Gratitude is always for what you're going to do for people in the future.\" — Harry S. Truman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/harry-s-truman-898_gratitude_there-is-no-gratitude-for-things-past-gr_1867809.jpg" --- # There is no gratitude for things past. Gratitude is always… ![“There is no gratitude for things past. Gratitude is always for what you're going to do for people in the future.” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/harry-s-truman-898_gratitude_there-is-no-gratitude-for-things-past-gr_1867809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/harry-s-truman-898_gratitude_there-is-no-gratitude-for-things-past-gr_1867809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/harry-s-truman-898_gratitude_there-is-no-gratitude-for-things-past-gr_1867809.jpg) > “There is no gratitude for things past. Gratitude is always for what you're going to do for people in the future.” [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude should focus on future actions toward others, not past deeds. **In simple terms:** Future‑oriented gratitude. Key Takeaway Plan grateful actions ahead. Themes gratitude future altruism Mood inspirational thoughtful Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - planning - relationship building Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How will you show gratitude soon? - What future deeds matter most? A Different Perspective May neglect appreciation of past help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Things past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [People come and go. But that's okay. Let their coming build your gratitude, and their going build your strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/people-come-and-go-but-that-s-okay-let-their-coming-build-your/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/let-us-remember-the-past-with-gratitude-live-the-present-with/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [Have gratitude for the things you're discarding. By giving gratitude, you're giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/have-gratitude-for-the-things-you-re-discarding-by-giving-gratitude/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/things-which-provide-deep-and-lasting-happiness-and-gratitude-are-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Gratitude is one of those things that cannot be bought. It must be born with men, or else all the obligations in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gratitude-is-one-of-those-things-that-cannot-be-bought-it-must-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more you will have to express gratitude for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-more-you-recognize-and-express-gratitude-for-the-things-you-have/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Gratitude is one of those things that cannot be bought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-l-wood-1st-earl-of-halifax/gratitude-is-one-of-those-things-that-cannot-be-bought/) [E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-l-wood-1st-earl-of-halifax/) > [The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more things you'll have to express gratitude for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/the-more-you-express-gratitude-for-what-you-have-the-more-things-you/) MlY AB > [Whether you say it to yourself or pray about it. Always gives thanks for all that you have and express gratitude for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/whether-you-say-it-to-yourself-or-pray-about-it-always-gives-thanks/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [No one who lives in the sunlight of gratitude that things aren't worse makes a failure of his or her life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/no-one-who-lives-in-the-sunlight-of-gratitude-that-things-aren-t/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I realized that there are just certain things in life that are private. I have things in my past - like everyone - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-osmond/i-realized-that-there-are-just-certain-things-in-life-that-are/) [Ken Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-osmond/) > [It is strange to talk of miracles, revelations, inspiration, and the like, as things past, while love remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-strange-to-talk-of-miracles-revelations-inspiration-and-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I didn’t want these wretched things to be in my past. But they were; nothing was going to change that fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keary-taylor/i-didn-t-want-these-wretched-things-to-be-in-my-past-but-they-were/) [Keary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keary-taylor/) > [You can't figure out what to do in the future by looking at how you did things in the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lewin/you-can-t-figure-out-what-to-do-in-the-future-by-looking-at-how-you/) [Roger Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-lewin/) > [You're human; you make mistakes. You have to put all the things in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-sandoval/you-re-human-you-make-mistakes-you-have-to-put-all-the-things-in-the/) [Pablo Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-sandoval/) ## More by Harry S. Truman > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and-would-rather-be-remarked-for/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It is ignorance that causes most mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-is-ignorance-that-causes-most-mistakes/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Most of the time most people know the right thing to do ...its the doing of it that gives them trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/most-of-the-time-most-people-know-the-right-thing-to-do-its-the-doing/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/secrecy-and-a-free-democratic-government-don-t-mix/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It can be lost, and it will be, if the time ever comes when these documents are regarded not as the supreme expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-can-be-lost-and-it-will-be-if-the-time-ever-comes-when-these/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The United States should not under any circumstances throw away our gun until we are sure the rest of the world cannot arm against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-united-states-should-not-under-any-circumstances-throw-away-our/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the individual, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-maintains-that-government-is-established-for-the-benefit-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Although I hold the highest civil honour in the world, I have always regarded my rank and title as a Past Grand Master of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/although-i-hold-the-highest-civil-honour-in-the-world-i-have-always/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Some of the presidents were great and some of them weren't. I can say that, because I wasn't one of the great presidents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-of-the-presidents-were-great-and-some-of-them-weren-t-i-can-say/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [A person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/a-person-who-is-fundamentally-honest-doesn-t-need-a-code-of-ethics/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our goal must not be peace in our time but peace for all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/our-goal-must-not-be-peace-in-our-time-but-peace-for-all-time/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) [Explore all 336 Harry S. Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## 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": "There is no gratitude for things past. 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