--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We believe that the possibility of the…" description: "\"We believe that the possibility of the future far exceeds the accomplishment of the past. We review the past with the common sense, but we anticipate t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/henry-david-thoreau-20_accomplishment_we-believe-that-the-possibility-of-the-f_1917511.jpg" --- # We believe that the possibility of the future far exceeds… ![“We believe that the possibility of the future far exceeds the accomplishment of the past. We review the past with the common sense, but we anticipate the future with transcendental senses. In our sanest moments we find ourselves naturally expecting or prepared for far greater changes than any…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/henry-david-thoreau-20_accomplishment_we-believe-that-the-possibility-of-the-f_1917511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/henry-david-thoreau-20_accomplishment_we-believe-that-the-possibility-of-the-f_1917511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/henry-david-thoreau-20_accomplishment_we-believe-that-the-possibility-of-the-f_1917511.jpg) > “We believe that the possibility of the future far exceeds the accomplishment of the past. We review the past with the common sense, but we anticipate the future with transcendental senses. In our sanest moments we find ourselves naturally expecting or prepared for far greater changes than any which we have experienced within the period of distinct memory, only to be paralleled by experiences which are forgotten.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future possibilities surpass past achievements; we use common sense for history but transcendental intuition for future, though memories fade. **In simple terms:** Future exceeds past. Key Takeaway Trust intuition about future. Themes future potential memory intuition transcendence Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - long‑term goals Key Concepts philosophy psychology temporal perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance past lessons with future intuition? - What practices sharpen transcendental sense? A Different Perspective Future may be unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Transcendental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendental/) ## Related quotes > [“The future is the only transcendental value for men without God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-future-is-the-only-transcendental-value-for-men-without-god/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I live in the present. I only remember the past, and anticipate the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-live-in-the-present-i-only-remember-the-past-and-anticipate-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm going to explore the possibility that my future work could be in public service rather than corporate work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mcgavick/i-m-going-to-explore-the-possibility-that-my-future-work-could-be-in/) [Mike McGavick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mcgavick/) > [“Science fiction is the arena of the not-yet, and every science fiction story has this element of not-yet-ness — usually a bit of technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/welch-everman/science-fiction-is-the-arena-of-the-not-yet-and-every-science-fiction/) Welch Everman > [With the past left in the past, theres only possibility in the future. That's when the future is wide open. That's when dreams can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/with-the-past-left-in-the-past-theres-only-possibility-in-the-future/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Even if times got bad, he would never again deny himself the possibility that the future might be happy even if the present was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/even-if-times-got-bad-he-would-never-again-deny-himself-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Time is Important wait and see warp through a portal to see what your future will be don't waste time be what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-boyd/time-is-important-wait-and-see-warp-through-a-portal-to-see-what-your/) Isaiah Boyd > [The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-true-harvest-of-my-daily-life-is-somewhat-as-intangible-and-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-did-not-wish-to-live-what-was-not-life-living-is-so-dear-nor-did-i/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Especially the transcendental philosophy needs the leaven of humor to render it light and digestible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/especially-the-transcendental-philosophy-needs-the-leaven-of-humor-to/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-wanted-to-live-deep-and-suck-out-all-the-marrow-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-went-to-the-woods-because-i-wished-to-live-deliberately/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-demon-possessed-me-that-i-behaved-so-well/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-went-to-the-woods-because-i-wished-to-live-deliberately-to-front/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In any weather, at any hour of the day or night, I have been anxious to improve the nick of time, and notch it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-any-weather-at-any-hour-of-the-day-or-night-i-have-been-anxious-to-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. 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