--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And…" description: "\"Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.\" — Jack Ma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/jack-ma-2112_alibaba_today-is-cruel-tomorrow-is-crueller-and_173492.jpg" --- # Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after… ![“Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.” quote by Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/jack-ma-2112_alibaba_today-is-cruel-tomorrow-is-crueller-and_173492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/jack-ma-2112_alibaba_today-is-cruel-tomorrow-is-crueller-and_173492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/jack-ma-2112_alibaba_today-is-cruel-tomorrow-is-crueller-and_173492.jpg) > “Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.” [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poetic observation that present hardships are severe, but future moments can become beautiful, highlighting the cyclical nature of struggle and hope. **In simple terms:** Hard times now, beautiful days later. Key Takeaway Endure, hopeful better days await. Themes hardship hope future resilience optimism Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - career setbacks - long‑term projects Key Concepts cyclical change philosophy of time Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay hopeful amid current challenges? - What future possibilities excite you? A Different Perspective Hope can feel distant during suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alibaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibaba/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorable/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [Each person has unspeakable distress. When I remember the past, annoying, I cry; The reality of today is too cruel, too severe, and doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aya-kito/each-person-has-unspeakable-distress-when-i-remember-the-past/) [Aya Kito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aya-kito/) > [It doesn't matter if I failed. At least I passed the concept on to others. Even if I don't succeed, someone will succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-failed-at-least-i-passed-the-concept-on-to/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [We will make it because we are young and we will never, never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/we-will-make-it-because-we-are-young-and-we-will-never-never-give-up/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I wanted to have a global company, so I chose a global name. Alibaba is easy to spell, and people everywhere associate that with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-wanted-to-have-a-global-company-so-i-chose-a-global-name-alibaba-is/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Without internet, there would have been no Jack Ma, and no Alibaba or Taobao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/without-internet-there-would-have-been-no-jack-ma-and-no-alibaba-or/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If you don't give up, you still have a chance. And when you are small, you have to be very focused and rely on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-don-t-give-up-you-still-have-a-chance-and-when-you-are-small/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [In carrying out e-commerce, the most important thing is to keep doing what you are doing right now with passion, to keep it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/in-carrying-out-e-commerce-the-most-important-thing-is-to-keep-doing/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If we are a good team and know what we want to do, one of us can defeat tons of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-we-are-a-good-team-and-know-what-we-want-to-do-one-of-us-can/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If you don't give up, you still have a chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-don-t-give-up-you-still-have-a-chance/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If we go to work at 8 a.m. and go home at 5 p.m., this is not a high-tech company and Alibaba will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-we-go-to-work-at-8-a-m-and-go-home-at-5-p-m-this-is-not-a-high/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If Alibaba cannot become a Microsoft or Walmart, I will regret it for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-alibaba-cannot-become-a-microsoft-or-walmart-i-will-regret-it-for/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“I am not afraid of tomorrow for I have seen yesterday, I have today and I know Him who holds tomorrow so I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e-2/i-am-not-afraid-of-tomorrow-for-i-have-seen-yesterday-i-have-today/) Agu, Jaachynma N.E > [Tomorrow we will do beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gaudi/tomorrow-we-will-do-beautiful-things/) [Antonio Gaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gaudi/) > [“She glanced upwards for a second at the soft blue vault of the midsummer night sky. Not a cloud misted its solemn depths. Tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-gibbons/she-glanced-upwards-for-a-second-at-the-soft-blue-vault-of-the/) [Stella Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-gibbons/) > [“Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow. A beautiful word, when you really think about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/tomorrow-tomorrow-i-love-ya-tomorrow-a-beautiful-word-when-you-really/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## More by Jack Ma > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [The world will not remember what you say, but it will certainly not forget what you have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/the-world-will-not-remember-what-you-say-but-it-will-certainly-not/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Only fools use their mouth to speak. A smart man uses his brain, and a wise man uses his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/only-fools-use-their-mouth-to-speak-a-smart-man-uses-his-brain-and-a/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-ever-do-business-with-the-government-be-in-love-with-them-never/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [It's impossible for China to keep 10 to 15% growth annually. The economy needed to slow down, and we have to learn to slow down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/it-s-impossible-for-china-to-keep-10-to-15-growth-annually-the/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I flunked my exam for university two times before I was accepted by what was considered my city's worst university, Hangzhou Teachers University. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-flunked-my-exam-for-university-two-times-before-i-was-accepted-by/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [China's government is so strong on investment, so strong on exporting, but they're too weak on domestic consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/china-s-government-is-so-strong-on-investment-so-strong-on-exporting/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If the 'Post' can play the role of a connector between the West and the East, I have confidence in the paper's future success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-the-post-can-play-the-role-of-a-connector-between-the-west-and-the/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I know nothing about technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-know-nothing-about-technology/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [30% of all people will never believe you. Do not allow your colleagues and employees to work for you. Instead, let them work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/30-of-all-people-will-never-believe-you-do-not-allow-your-colleagues/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If you want to invest in us, we believe customer number one, employee number two, shareholder number three. If they don't want to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-want-to-invest-in-us-we-believe-customer-number-one-employee/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-give-up-today-is-hard-tomorrow-will-be-worse-but-the-day-after/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [A great opportunity is often hard to be explained clearly; things that can be explained clearly are often not the best opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/a-great-opportunity-is-often-hard-to-be-explained-clearly-things-that/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [The customer is number one, the employee is number two and the shareholder is number three. If the customer is happy, the business is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee-is-number-two-and-the/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I think young generation is always better than last generation. No matter you like it or don't like it. My father said, 'Jack, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-think-young-generation-is-always-better-than-last-generation-no/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) [Explore all 185 Jack Ma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) ## More Alibaba quotes > [If Alibaba cannot become a Microsoft or Walmart, I will regret it for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-alibaba-cannot-become-a-microsoft-or-walmart-i-will-regret-it-for/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If we go to work at 8 a.m. and go home at 5 p.m., this is not a high-tech company and Alibaba will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-we-go-to-work-at-8-a-m-and-go-home-at-5-p-m-this-is-not-a-high/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If you don't give up, you still have a chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-don-t-give-up-you-still-have-a-chance/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If we are a good team and know what we want to do, one of us can defeat tons of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-we-are-a-good-team-and-know-what-we-want-to-do-one-of-us-can/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [In carrying out e-commerce, the most important thing is to keep doing what you are doing right now with passion, to keep it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/in-carrying-out-e-commerce-the-most-important-thing-is-to-keep-doing/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If you don't give up, you still have a chance. And when you are small, you have to be very focused and rely on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-don-t-give-up-you-still-have-a-chance-and-when-you-are-small/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I wanted to have a global company, so I chose a global name. Alibaba is easy to spell, and people everywhere associate that with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-wanted-to-have-a-global-company-so-i-chose-a-global-name-alibaba-is/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [We will make it because we are young and we will never, never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/we-will-make-it-because-we-are-young-and-we-will-never-never-give-up/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [It doesn't matter if I failed. At least I passed the concept on to others. Even if I don't succeed, someone will succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-failed-at-least-i-passed-the-concept-on-to/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [The most important thing is to keep trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/the-most-important-thing-is-to-keep-trying/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Without internet, there would have been no Jack Ma, and no Alibaba or Taobao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/without-internet-there-would-have-been-no-jack-ma-and-no-alibaba-or/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) [Browse all 12 Alibaba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibaba/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. 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