--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honestly, I spend very little time…" description: "\"Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past events, and I certainly don't have them ranked in any way. I look back and think that I have don..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/john-carmack-15030_done_honestly-i-spend-very-little-time-thinki_640386.jpg" --- # Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past… ![“Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past events, and I certainly don't have them ranked in any way. I look back and think that I have done a lot of good work over the years, but I am much more excited about what the future holds.” quote by John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/john-carmack-15030_done_honestly-i-spend-very-little-time-thinki_640386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/john-carmack-15030_done_honestly-i-spend-very-little-time-thinki_640386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/john-carmack-15030_done_honestly-i-spend-very-little-time-thinki_640386.jpg) > “Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past events, and I certainly don't have them ranked in any way. I look back and think that I have done a lot of good work over the years, but I am much more excited about what the future holds.” [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on future possibilities rather than past regrets, valuing ongoing achievement over nostalgia. **In simple terms:** Prioritize future over past. Key Takeaway Embrace forward momentum. Themes growth future orientation mindset Mood optimistic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - creative projects - learning new skills Key Concepts productivity goal setting self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How can you use past successes to shape future goals? - What fears hold you back from fully embracing the future? A Different Perspective Past reflection can still inform better decisions; avoid dismissing lessons learned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Good work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-work/) [Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Little time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-events/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-past-747425/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-thinking-286758/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-excited-4187105/) ## Related quotes > [I really don't spend time thinking about the past. I think about the future. I'm not stopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-really-don-t-spend-time-thinking-about-the-past-i-think-about-the/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [Don't waste time on thinking about past. Live in present and focus on making your future better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-waste-time-on-thinking-about-past-live-in-present-and-focus-on/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It has been a wonderful five years. I'm excited about the many projects we're working on as we move into year six, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crier/it-has-been-a-wonderful-five-years-i-m-excited-about-the-many/) [Catherine Crier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crier/) > [I have been honored and privileged to have led The Rockefeller Foundation for the last seven years, and I am excited to be leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rodin/i-have-been-honored-and-privileged-to-have-led-the-rockefeller/) [Judith Rodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rodin/) > [My proudest thing in my career is that I was able to change it three times. And I'm happy about that. I couldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-iovine/my-proudest-thing-in-my-career-is-that-i-was-able-to-change-it-three/) [Jimmy Iovine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-iovine/) > [Outside of interviews, I spend very little time thinking about myself. I spend time thinking about my writing and my children and other things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/outside-of-interviews-i-spend-very-little-time-thinking-about-myself/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [I try to spend as little time thinking about myself as possible. I find that's not a constructive way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-try-to-spend-as-little-time-thinking-about-myself-as-possible-i/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [“Here is a startling fact: Your brain is designed to spend as little time thinking as possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-is-a-startling-fact-your-brain-is-designed-to-spend-as-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't believe people let things slide away. It's the nature of the universe that everything dissolves into oblivion and by every route possible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-don-t-believe-people-let-things-slide-away-it-s-the-nature-of-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [It is still open for me, as well as you, to regulate my behavior, by my experience of past events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/it-is-still-open-for-me-as-well-as-you-to-regulate-my-behavior-by-my/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [No other species lives with regret over past events, or makes deliberate plans for future ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/no-other-species-lives-with-regret-over-past-events-or-makes/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Emphasis should be placed more on what the patient does in the present and will do in the future than on a mere understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-h-erickson/emphasis-should-be-placed-more-on-what-the-patient-does-in-the/) [Milton H. Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-h-erickson/) > [“Coffee's in the cabinet over the sink. I won't take long." "Good. You want a cup?" "No, I'm good. I had some at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/coffee-s-in-the-cabinet-over-the-sink-i-won-t-take-long-good-you-want/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [The past doesn’t exist except as a memory, a mental story, and though past events aren’t changeable, your stories about them are. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-past-doesn-t-exist-except-as-a-memory-a-mental-story-and-though/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [People seem to lose all respect for the past; events succeed each other with such velocity that the most remarkable one of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/people-seem-to-lose-all-respect-for-the-past-events-succeed-each/) [Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/) ## More by John Carmack > [The idea that I can be presented with a problem, set out to logically solve it with the tools at hand, and wind up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-idea-that-i-can-be-presented-with-a-problem-set-out-to-logically/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The situation is so much better for programmers today - a cheap used PC, a linux CD, and an internet account, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-situation-is-so-much-better-for-programmers-today-a-cheap-used-pc/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [ In the information age, the barriers \[to entry into programming\] just aren't there. The barriers are self imposed. If you want to set off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/in-the-information-age-the-barriers-to-entry-into-programming-just/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [It's nice to have a game that sells a million copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/it-s-nice-to-have-a-game-that-sells-a-million-copies/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I've said before that I'm a remarkably unsentimental person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-ve-said-before-that-i-m-a-remarkably-unsentimental-person/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Programming in the abstract sense is what I really enjoy. I enjoy lots of different areas of it... I'm taking a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/programming-in-the-abstract-sense-is-what-i-really-enjoy-i-enjoy-lots/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I really think, if anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence. There have actually been some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-really-think-if-anything-there-is-more-evidence-to-show-that-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I recognize that I possess a very special intellect, but at the same time, I recognize that I'm lacking in a lot of areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-recognize-that-i-possess-a-very-special-intellect-but-at-the-same/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Some cynical people think that every activity must revolve around the mighty dollar, and that anyone saying otherwise is just attempting to delude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/some-cynical-people-think-that-every-activity-must-revolve-around-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The speed of light sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-speed-of-light-sucks/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [You can prematurely optimize maintainability, flexibility, security, and robustness just like you can performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/you-can-prematurely-optimize-maintainability-flexibility-security-and/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I have fond memories of the development work that led to a lot of great things in modern gaming - the intensity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-have-fond-memories-of-the-development-work-that-led-to-a-lot-of/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Focused, hard work is the real key to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-success/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [If you're willing to restrict the flexibility of your approach, you can almost always do something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/if-you-re-willing-to-restrict-the-flexibility-of-your-approach-you/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The cost of adding a feature isn't just the time it takes to code it. The cost also includes the addition of an obstacle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-cost-of-adding-a-feature-isn-t-just-the-time-it-takes-to-code-it/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) [Explore all 44 John Carmack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. 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