--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clearly, the first task is to gain…" description: "\"Clearly, the first task is to gain acceptance of a more reasonable view of the future, one that opens possibilities rather than forecloses them.\" — Her..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg" --- # Clearly, the first task is to gain acceptance of a more… ![“Clearly, the first task is to gain acceptance of a more reasonable view of the future, one that opens possibilities rather than forecloses them.” quote by Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg) > “Clearly, the first task is to gain acceptance of a more reasonable view of the future, one that opens possibilities rather than forecloses them.” [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing broader, flexible visions of the future creates opportunities instead of limiting them. **In simple terms:** Open futures create possibilities. Key Takeaway Cultivate adaptable, hopeful outlooks. Themes future strategy possibility Mood hopeful strategic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business planning - policy making - personal goal setting Key Concepts systems thinking scenario planning optimism Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance openness with realism? - What steps make a flexible future vision actionable? A Different Perspective Overly optimistic visions may ignore risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Acceptance Reasonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance-reasonable-5464433/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Future Opens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-opens-5464432/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Opens Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opens-possibilities-613498/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Reasonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonable/) [Reasonable View](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonable-view-2443115/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [View Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view-future-591687/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [I am a conservative thinker, well known as such, outspoken as such but reasonable in my view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-am-a-conservative-thinker-well-known-as-such-outspoken-as-such-but/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [What we find is that if you have a goal that is very, very far out, and you approach it in little steps, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/what-we-find-is-that-if-you-have-a-goal-that-is-very-very-far-out-and/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [science never threatens God - it opens up more possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/science-never-threatens-god-it-opens-up-more-possibilities/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“From the point of view of future history, this kind, we'll be invisible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/from-the-point-of-view-of-future-history-this-kind-we-ll-be-invisible/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“To a startling extent, in other words, our vision of the future is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Change your view of the future, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burrus/to-a-startling-extent-in-other-words-our-vision-of-the-future-is-a/) [Daniel Burrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-burrus/) > [If you became grateful, right now, for everything that ever happened in your past, how would that impact your view of the future?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-edmeades/if-you-became-grateful-right-now-for-everything-that-ever-happened-in/) [Eric Edmeades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-edmeades/) > [I can't take a view of the future of every player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-hasenhuttl/i-can-t-take-a-view-of-the-future-of-every-player/) [Ralph Hasenhuttl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-hasenhuttl/) > [Seeing people in person is a big part of how you drive any change process. You have to show people a positive view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/seeing-people-in-person-is-a-big-part-of-how-you-drive-any-change/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [Yesterday has past did you learn anything? At this present time we must better our self and thrive to reach goals that are set.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/yesterday-has-past-did-you-learn-anything-at-this-present-time-we/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [In my view you can't go to the future if you haven't come from the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/in-my-view-you-can-t-go-to-the-future-if-you-haven-t-come-from-the/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [Our eyes are always blind when they view the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/our-eyes-are-always-blind-when-they-view-the-future/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [If we keep an optimistic view about the future, we definitely have to look for our place. Not to be redundant. And that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/if-we-keep-an-optimistic-view-about-the-future-we-definitely-have-to/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“The future is as blank as a plane sheet if you don't have an eagle's eye, that's why you should climb to a vantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-future-is-as-blank-as-a-plane-sheet-if-you-don-t-have-an-eagle-s/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The cold view to take of our future is that we are therefore headed for extinction in a universe of impersonal chemical, physical, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-l-pez/the-cold-view-to-take-of-our-future-is-that-we-are-therefore-headed/) [Barry Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-l-pez/) > [“A true vision is not a selfish view of the future but one that blesses many people in the long run.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/a-true-vision-is-not-a-selfish-view-of-the-future-but-one-that/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) ## More by Herman Kahn > [I'm against ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/i-m-against-ignorance/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [I'm against sloppy, emotional thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/i-m-against-sloppy-emotional-thinking/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Anything that reduces war-related destruction should not be considered altogether immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/anything-that-reduces-war-related-destruction-should-not-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [World War I broke out largely because of an arms race, and World War II because of the lack of an arms race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/world-war-i-broke-out-largely-because-of-an-arms-race-and-world-war/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [For if enough people were really convinced that growth should be halted, and if they acted on that conviction, then billions of others might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/for-if-enough-people-were-really-convinced-that-growth-should-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Risk-taking is the essence of innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/risk-taking-is-the-essence-of-innovation/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [“The common contaminated foods which would be the major source of Sr-90 might be classified into five grades- A, B, C, D, and E...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/the-common-contaminated-foods-which-would-be-the-major-source-of-sr/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Human and moral factors must always be considered. They must never be missing from policies and from public discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/human-and-moral-factors-must-always-be-considered-they-must-never-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [For some years I have spent my time on exactly these questions - both in thinking about ways to prevent war, and in thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/for-some-years-i-have-spent-my-time-on-exactly-these-questions-both/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [It may literally turn out that a Hottentot, an educated and literate Hottentot it is true, but one who is a member of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/it-may-literally-turn-out-that-a-hottentot-an-educated-and-literate/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [New developments in weapon systems during the 1950s and early 1960s created a situation that was most dangerous, and even conducive to accidental war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/new-developments-in-weapon-systems-during-the-1950s-and-early-1960s/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [To the extent that these advanced weapons or their components are treated as articles of commerce, perhaps for peaceful uses as in the Plowshare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/to-the-extent-that-these-advanced-weapons-or-their-components-are/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Only those who are ideologically opposed to military programs think of the defense budget as the first and best place to get resources for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/only-those-who-are-ideologically-opposed-to-military-programs-think/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Nuclear weapons are intrinsically neither moral nor immoral, though they are more prone to immoral use than most weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/nuclear-weapons-are-intrinsically-neither-moral-nor-immoral-though/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [In 1960 I published a book that attempted to direct attention to the possibility of a thermonuclear war, to ways of reducing the likelihood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/in-1960-i-published-a-book-that-attempted-to-direct-attention-to-the/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) [Explore all 39 Herman Kahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [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/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Clearly, the first task is to gain acceptance of a more reasonable view of the future, one that opens possibilities rather than forecloses them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Kahn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-acceptance-of-a-more-reasonable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-acceptance-of-a-more-reasonable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/herman-kahn-16803_acceptance_clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-accept_3118127.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Clearly, the first task is to gain acceptance of a more reasonable view of the future, one that opens…” — Herman Kahn", "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": "Herman Kahn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Clearly, the first task is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-acceptance-of-a-more-reasonable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/clearly-the-first-task-is-to-gain-acceptance-of-a-more-reasonable/#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 } } ] } ```