--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We usually lost today because there has…" description: "\"“We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.”\" — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg" --- # We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday… ![“We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.” quote by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg) > ““We usually lost 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. Past losses and future expectations shape present experience; we are often distracted by yesterday and tomorrow **In simple terms:** Living in the past or future prevents present fulfillment Key Takeaway Focus on the present moment Themes philosophy time mindfulness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily decision making - stress management - goal setting - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism temporal awareness psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to live fully now? - How can you reduce worry about yesterday and tomorrow? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past or future can cause anxiety and indecision ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lost Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-today-419127/) [Today Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-yesterday/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Tomorrow Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow-coming-3481038/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) [Yesterday and tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday-and-tomorrow/) [Yesterday Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday-tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [We usually lose today, because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lose-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Try to sleep. Tomorrow’s coming, whether we worry about it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/try-to-sleep-tomorrow-s-coming-whether-we-worry-about-it-or-not/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jones-burdette/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Tomorrow quotes > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [“Will you destroy something in order to make it beautiful? Will you avoid something in order to fall in love with it? Will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/will-you-destroy-something-in-order-to-make-it-beautiful-will-you/) [Hanif Hassan Barbhuiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-hassan-barbhuiya/) > [Diabetes is an all-too-personal time bomb which can go off today, tomorrow, next year, or 10 years from now - a time bomb affecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tyler-moore/diabetes-is-an-all-too-personal-time-bomb-which-can-go-off-today/) [Mary Tyler Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-tyler-moore/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [ When they \[people with insomnia\] start worrying about not sleeping, I'll say, "Say the mantra to myself; if I don't sleep tonight, I'll likely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/when-they-people-with-insomnia-start-worrying-about-not-sleeping-i-ll/) [Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/) > [Here today, may be gone tomorrow! Never take anyone or nothing for granted! Be sure to count your blessing daily because tomorrow isn't promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surgeo-bell/here-today-may-be-gone-tomorrow-never-take-anyone-or-nothing-for/) [Surgeo Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surgeo-bell/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [I would like to tell you that it will be better tomorrow, But I've been through so many tomorrows and nothing has ever changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/i-would-like-to-tell-you-that-it-will-be-better-tomorrow-but-i-ve/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-never-been-a-quitter-to-leave-office-before-my-term-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Browse all 6,799 Tomorrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We usually lost 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-lost-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tomorrow" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_tomorrow_we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has_384490.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We usually lost 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 lost today because there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lost-today-because-there-has-been-a-yesterday-and-tomorrow/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-usually-lost-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 } } ] } ```