--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The future of this nation, with the…" description: "\"The future of this nation, with the present generation, You must admit is nothing but a joke\" — Ira Gershwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png" --- # The future of this nation, with the present generation… ![“The future of this nation, with the present generation, You must admit is nothing but a joke” quote by Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png) > “The future of this nation, with the present generation, You must admit is nothing but a joke” [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He cynically remarks that the nation's future, shaped by the current generation, seems like a farce. **In simple terms:** The future appears as a joke due to present actions. Key Takeaway Recognize and address current shortcomings. Themes politics future generational responsibility Mood skeptical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - education reform - community activism - public discourse Key Concepts civic duty social critique Questions to Reflect On - What can the present generation do to improve the future? - How does humor mask deeper concerns? A Different Perspective Pessimism may overlook positive change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing becomes reality in the political life of a nation that was not present in its literature as spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-von-hofmannsthal/nothing-becomes-reality-in-the-political-life-of-a-nation-that-was/) [Hugo von Hofmannsthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-von-hofmannsthal/) > [Future of his nation does not depend on what happens at the White House, but what happens at your house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/future-of-his-nation-does-not-depend-on-what-happens-at-the-white/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [The future of a nation lies in the hands of mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-future-of-a-nation-lies-in-the-hands-of-mothers/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The issue of who gets to define the future, own the nation's wealth, shape the parameters of the social state, control the globe's resources,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-issue-of-who-gets-to-define-the-future-own-the-nation-s-wealth/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [A brave, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which the future nation can be built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-brave-frank-clean-hearted-courageous-and-aspiring-youth-is-the-only/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Alliances are part of our destiny as a nation, part of our future as a nation and this is what guides me in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/alliances-are-part-of-our-destiny-as-a-nation-part-of-our-future-as-a/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [No other generation but ours can evangelize the present generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mott/no-other-generation-but-ours-can-evangelize-the-present-generation/) [John Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mott/) > [Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/posterity-you-will-never-know-how-much-it-cost-the-present-generation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We in our present generation stand on the cusp of a new and glorious dawn when mastery of these energies lies fully within our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/we-in-our-present-generation-stand-on-the-cusp-of-a-new-and-glorious/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [The present generation has been born into a throwaway society of consumers in which both goods and young people are increasingly objectified and disposable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-present-generation-has-been-born-into-a-throwaway-society-of/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [We must remember that self-reliance and eradication of poverty demands - indeed, compel - the present generation to bear hardship and make sacrifices. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-gandhi/we-must-remember-that-self-reliance-and-eradication-of-poverty/) [Rajiv Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-gandhi/) > [We must follow the wisdom of the Brundtland Report. We must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-must-follow-the-wisdom-of-the-brundtland-report-we-must-pursue/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Marriage does not exist for the benefit of the present generation but for the benefit of the next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/marriage-does-not-exist-for-the-benefit-of-the-present-generation-but/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [The present generation finds itself the heir of a vast patrimony of science; and it must needs concern us to know the steps by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-present-generation-finds-itself-the-heir-of-a-vast-patrimony-of/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [“The future is our present for the next generation. It's our duty and our total responsabilty to leave a good deed from our gifts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/the-future-is-our-present-for-the-next-generation-it-s-our-duty-and/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) ## More by Ira Gershwin > [S wonderful! 'S marvelous! That you should care for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/s-wonderful-s-marvelous-that-you-should-care-for-me/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [Summer time an' the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' an' the cotton is high. Oh, yo' daddy's rich, and yo' ma' is good-lookin',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/summer-time-an-the-livin-is-easy-fish-are-jumpin-an-the-cotton-is/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [Old age adds to the respect due to virtue, but it takes nothing from the contempt inspired by vice; it whitens only the hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/old-age-adds-to-the-respect-due-to-virtue-but-it-takes-nothing-from/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/i-m-a-little-lamb-who-s-lost-in-the-wood/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [But the age of miracles hadn't passed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/but-the-age-of-miracles-hadn-t-passed/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [One can be very happy without demanding that others agree with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/one-can-be-very-happy-without-demanding-that-others-agree-with-them/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [Oh, lady be good To me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/oh-lady-be-good-to-me/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [“But, tell me, is it worth the while To decorate this earth the while The men are so unworthy of our zeal? No more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/but-tell-me-is-it-worth-the-while-to-decorate-this-earth-the-while/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/in-time-the-rockies-may-crumble-gibraltar-may-tumble/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [If I'm a guy who doesn't seem so merry, It's just because I'm so misunderstood. When I was young I ate a dictionary, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/if-i-m-a-guy-who-doesn-t-seem-so-merry-it-s-just-because-i-m-so/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [I got rhythm, I got music, I got my man- Who could ask for anything more?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/i-got-rhythm-i-got-music-i-got-my-man-who-could-ask-for-anything-more/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [I got daisies In green pastures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/i-got-daisies-in-green-pastures/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [I'm bidin' my time, 'Cause that's the kinda guy I'm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/i-m-bidin-my-time-cause-that-s-the-kinda-guy-i-m/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [A song without music is a lot like H2 without the O.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/a-song-without-music-is-a-lot-like-h2-without-the-o/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [What usually comes first is the contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/what-usually-comes-first-is-the-contract/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) [Explore all 30 Ira Gershwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) ## More Generations quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [“The fact that you are born means you have the potential of benefiting yourself and generations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abegunde-sunday-o/the-fact-that-you-are-born-means-you-have-the-potential-of-benefiting/) [Abegunde Sunday O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abegunde-sunday-o/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [“Will this generation be able to turn things around and learn a valuable lesson from all of this? I hope so, but I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/will-this-generation-be-able-to-turn-things-around-and-learn-a/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) J. Hoberman > [The Next Generation Space Telescope, which will be located much further away from the Earth than the Hubble Space Telescope presently is, will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-nicollier/the-next-generation-space-telescope-which-will-be-located-much/) [Claude Nicollier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-nicollier/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [He removed several pages of death certificates, which were picked up by another breeze and sent into the trees. Some would fall with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-removed-several-pages-of-death-certificates-which-were-picked-up/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Browse all 5,661 Generations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The future of this nation, with the present generation, You must admit is nothing but a joke", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ira Gershwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-present-generation-you-must-admit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Generations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-present-generation-you-must-admit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/ira-gershwin-20787_generations_the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-prese_1099655.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The future of this nation, with the present generation, You must admit is nothing but a joke” — Ira Gershwin", "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": "Ira Gershwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The future of this nation, with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-present-generation-you-must-admit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/the-future-of-this-nation-with-the-present-generation-you-must-admit/#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 } } ] } ```