--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We usually lose today, because there has…" description: "\"We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.\" — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg" --- # We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday… ![“We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg) > “We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He observes that today is lost because of yesterday and the inevitable arrival of tomorrow. **In simple terms:** He says today is lost due to past and future. Key Takeaway Live presentfully, aware of time’s flow. Themes time loss continuity Mood reflective philosophical Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - mindfulness practice - historical analysis - creative writing - life coaching Key Concepts Temporal perception philosophical reflection Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance past, present, and future? - What does “lose today” mean to you? A Different Perspective Focusing on past/future may hinder present action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) [Yesterday and tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday-and-tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [“We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I believe one thing: that today is yesterday and tomorrow is today and you can't stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/i-believe-one-thing-that-today-is-yesterday-and-tomorrow-is-today-and/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [There are two days in the year that we can not do anything, yesterday and tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-days-in-the-year-that-we-can-not-do-anything-yesterday/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Choose between yesterday and tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/choose-between-yesterday-and-tomorrow/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [You don't have to reinvent the wheel every day. Today you will do what you did yesterday, and tomorrow you will do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/you-don-t-have-to-reinvent-the-wheel-every-day-today-you-will-do-what/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [Make it so today is not like yesterday and tomorrow will be different FOREVER.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/make-it-so-today-is-not-like-yesterday-and-tomorrow-will-be-different/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worth-more-than-this-day-you-cannot-relive-yesterday/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is day by day that we go forward; today we are as we were yesterday and tomorrow we shall be like ourselves today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/it-is-day-by-day-that-we-go-forward-today-we-are-as-we-were-yesterday/) [Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sevigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/) > [“You can't be friends with yesterday and tomorrow at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan/you-can-t-be-friends-with-yesterday-and-tomorrow-at-the-same-time/) Jovan > [What is happening right now? That in itself, is an exercise. Because you can get caught up in yesterday and tomorrow and missing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-lyte/what-is-happening-right-now-that-in-itself-is-an-exercise-because-you/) [MC Lyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-lyte/) > [There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry... Yesterday and Tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jones-burdette/there-are-two-days-in-the-week-about-which-and-upon-which-i-never-2/) Robert Jones Burdette > [Today I'll fix the mistakes I made yesterday and tomorrow I'll fix the mistakes I made today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/today-i-ll-fix-the-mistakes-i-made-yesterday-and-tomorrow-i-ll-fix/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [I have gone into yesterday and tomorrow and both were as real as today -- which is like the dreams of ghosts!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-gone-into-yesterday-and-tomorrow-and-both-were-as-real-as/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [My mom, given what she went through, was 'Every day is a new one, something beautiful can happen, something tragic can happen, but every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/my-mom-given-what-she-went-through-was-every-day-is-a-new-one/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Yesterday and tomorrow cross and mix on the skyline. The two are lost in a purple haze. One forgets, one waits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/yesterday-and-tomorrow-cross-and-mix-on-the-skyline-the-two-are-lost/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Today quotes > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Not reassuring when weathermen say 'Today will be terrible but don't worry it won't be as terrible as tomorrow or Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/not-reassuring-when-weathermen-say-today-will-be-terrible-but-don-t/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) [Browse all 18,581 Today quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Today" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_today_we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has_2661333.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "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": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We usually lose today, because there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/#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 } } ] } ```