Skip to content

Cutting Quote by John Dryden

“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 some new Joys, cuts off what we possest.” quote by John Dryden
Download Open image
“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 some new Joys, cuts off what we possest.”

John Dryden

About This Quote

Source Poem: The Secular Masque by John Dryden, 1700

The poem warns that reliance on tomorrow is self-deceiving. Tomorrow proves even less reliable than the present and steals away what we already possess.

In simple terms: Do not trust tomorrow because it will cheat you.

Key Takeaway

Act today rather than wait on tomorrow.

Themes

time procrastination mortality illusion loss

Mood

melancholic cautionary

Type

poem moral warning

When to use this quote

  • delaying important decisions
  • goal setting
  • deadline management
  • reflecting on missed opportunities

Key Concepts

carpe diem temporal deception human self-deception

Questions to Reflect On

  • What are you putting off until tomorrow?
  • How might tomorrow be less reliable than you assume?
A Different Perspective

Planning for the future is not always procrastination because some delayed action is wise patience.

3.6 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by John Dryden

Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes

More Cutting quotes

Browse all 6,010 Cutting quotes