--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here and now was always where Tempus was…" description: "\"Here and now was always where Tempus was, not off somewhere in the realm of Greater Good or Mortal Soul or Eternal Consequence. He'd lost the ability t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/janet-morris-1935_ability_here-and-now-was-always-where-tempus-was_1482590.png" --- # Here and now was always where Tempus was, not off… ![“Here and now was always where Tempus was, not off somewhere in the realm of Greater Good or Mortal Soul or Eternal Consequence. He'd lost the ability to determine greater good, if there was one; his mortal soul he'd given up on long ago. And as for eternal consequence - he was its embodiment.” quote by Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/janet-morris-1935_ability_here-and-now-was-always-where-tempus-was_1482590.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/janet-morris-1935_ability_here-and-now-was-always-where-tempus-was_1482590.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/janet-morris-1935_ability_here-and-now-was-always-where-tempus-was_1482590.png) > “Here and now was always where Tempus was, not off somewhere in the realm of Greater Good or Mortal Soul or Eternal Consequence. He'd lost the ability to determine greater good, if there was one; his mortal soul he'd given up on long ago. And as for eternal consequence - he was its embodiment.” [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The character lives fully in the present, detached from abstract moral concepts and future consequences, embodying the inevitable outcome of his choices. **In simple terms:** He exists only in the present, ignoring higher ideals and future results. Key Takeaway Embrace the present, recognize the limits of moral abstraction. Themes presentism detachment destiny morality existentialism Mood reflective somber thoughtful Type literary philosophical existential When to use this quote - personal crisis - ethical decision making - life coaching - creative writing - philosophical debate Key Concepts nihilism determinism self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - How does living only in the now affect ethical responsibility? - Can one balance present focus with future consequences? A Different Perspective The focus on the present may ignore necessary long‑term planning and responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Greater good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-good/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [Look, therefore, which way we will, whether at the direct Scriptural statements of death as the penalty of sin, or at the agony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herrick-johnson/look-therefore-which-way-we-will-whether-at-the-direct-scriptural/) [Herrick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herrick-johnson/) > [The spread of democracy is a wonderful thing-it is a necessary foundation for peace-and it can happen. 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If she presented herself as the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/froma-harrop/no-female-young-old-black-or-white-could-ever-play-the-knight-on/) Froma Harrop > [Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations. Man's capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/educational-exchange-can-turn-nations-into-people-contributing-as-no/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Greek is the embodiment of the fluent speech that runs or soars, the speech of a people which could not help giving winged feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/greek-is-the-embodiment-of-the-fluent-speech-that-runs-or-soars-the/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [The Law is the true embodiment of everything that's excellent; it has no kind of fault or flaw and I, my Lords, embody the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/the-law-is-the-true-embodiment-of-everything-that-s-excellent-it-has/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [The Hope, Love & Healing necklace is the perfect embodiment of what we are trying to bring to Haiti through safe and sustainable housing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/the-hope-love-healing-necklace-is-the-perfect-embodiment-of-what-we/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Your ego is your embodiment and your self is your potentiality and that's what you listen to when you listen for the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/your-ego-is-your-embodiment-and-your-self-is-your-potentiality-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## More by Janet Morris > [This is as 'alone' as I'm likely to get with you - you're not half so fetching as your daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/this-is-as-alone-as-i-m-likely-to-get-with-you-you-re-not-half-so/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [I survive. I survived it all then and I'll survive the rest of it. Without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/i-survive-i-survived-it-all-then-and-i-ll-survive-the-rest-of-it/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [So some will be left who remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/so-some-will-be-left-who-remember/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Don't blame yourself, or worry. Neither does a bit of good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/don-t-blame-yourself-or-worry-neither-does-a-bit-of-good/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [When I write what publishers call 'fantasy' I am writing in what I think is the most important tradition of fiction: starting with Homer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/when-i-write-what-publishers-call-fantasy-i-am-writing-in-what-i/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Painful things are quickly forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/painful-things-are-quickly-forgotten/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [It is upon each soul to recognize its limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/it-is-upon-each-soul-to-recognize-its-limit/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Proof of war, when it comes, always comes too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/proof-of-war-when-it-comes-always-comes-too-late/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Loyalty must be forged - to him, to his: stronger than iron, from experience, from risk - it can't be bought, or taught, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/loyalty-must-be-forged-to-him-to-his-stronger-than-iron-from/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Fury from the heavens; fury at the gods - inseparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/fury-from-the-heavens-fury-at-the-gods-inseparable/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Learn what can, and cannot, be asked from destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/learn-what-can-and-cannot-be-asked-from-destiny/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [It's all right. Things as they once were will never be again, but it's all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/it-s-all-right-things-as-they-once-were-will-never-be-again-but-it-s/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [For me, myth is the 'common' language of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/for-me-myth-is-the-common-language-of-us-all/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [He loves the world so much. I agree it would be a shame to take that love away from meadow and tree, stream and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/he-loves-the-world-so-much-i-agree-it-would-be-a-shame-to-take-that/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Survival has its own etiquette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/survival-has-its-own-etiquette/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) [Explore all 197 Janet Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Here and now was always where Tempus was, not off somewhere in the realm of Greater Good or Mortal Soul or Eternal Consequence. 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