--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived…" description: "\"Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today: Be fair or foul or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed in spite of fate are mine. Not heaven itself..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/john-dryden-491_inspirational_tomorrow-do-thy-worst-for-i-have-lived-t_992971.jpg" --- # Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today: Be fair or… ![“Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today: Be fair or foul or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed in spite of fate are mine. Not heaven itself upon the past has power; But what has been has been, and I have had my hour.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/john-dryden-491_inspirational_tomorrow-do-thy-worst-for-i-have-lived-t_992971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/john-dryden-491_inspirational_tomorrow-do-thy-worst-for-i-have-lived-t_992971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/john-dryden-491_inspirational_tomorrow-do-thy-worst-for-i-have-lived-t_992971.jpg) > “Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today: Be fair or foul or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed in spite of fate are mine. Not heaven itself upon the past has power; But what has been has been, and I have had my hour.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker embraces life’s experiences, accepting both good and bad, and asserts that past events cannot control the present. **In simple terms:** Accept life’s highs and lows; past cannot control now. Key Takeaway Live fully, own your moments. Themes acceptance resilience self‑determination Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - daily decision‑making Key Concepts Stoicism existential agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you claim ownership of your present? - What limits does the past truly have over you? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lived Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-today-1142212/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Rain or shine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain-or-shine/) [Spite Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite-fate-2026343/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Tomorrow Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow-thy-2045802/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/tomorrow-do-thy-worst-for-i-have-lived-today/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own: he who, secure within, can say, tomorrow do thy worst,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/happy-the-man-and-happy-he-alone-he-who-can-call-today-his-own-he-who/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Tomorrow do thy worst, I have lived today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/tomorrow-do-thy-worst-i-have-lived-today/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Be fair, or foul, or rain, or shine, The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine. Not heaven itself upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/be-fair-or-foul-or-rain-or-shine-the-joys-i-have-possessed-in-spite/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Yeah, because you'll really be showing them, won't you. Talk about cutting up your wrists to spite your fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/yeah-because-you-ll-really-be-showing-them-won-t-you-talk-about/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Happy the man, and happy he alone, he, who can call today his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-the-man-and-happy-he-alone-he-who-can-call-today-his-own/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Blend in. don't make waves. Don't look up.' That was the mantra I lived by. But not today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/blend-in-don-t-make-waves-don-t-look-up-that-was-the-mantra-i-lived/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Unless you progress a step or a half-step more than yesterday, you haven't really lived today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentetsu-takamori/unless-you-progress-a-step-or-a-half-step-more-than-yesterday-you/) [Kentetsu Takamori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentetsu-takamori/) > [I would not fear nor wish my fate, but boldly say each night, to-morrow let my sun his beams display, or in clouds hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-not-fear-nor-wish-my-fate-but-boldly-say-each-night-to-morrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/you-have-not-lived-today-until-you-have-done-something-for-someone/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [If you lived today as if it were your last, you'd buy up a box of rockets and fire them all off, wouldn't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/if-you-lived-today-as-if-it-were-your-last-you-d-buy-up-a-box-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [If nothing else, one day you can look someone straight in the eyes and say, But I lived through it. And it made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-thomas/if-nothing-else-one-day-you-can-look-someone-straight-in-the-eyes-and/) [Iain Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-thomas/) > [Yesterday I lived, today I suffer, tomorrow I die; but I still think fondly, today and tomorrow, of yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/yesterday-i-lived-today-i-suffer-tomorrow-i-die-but-i-still-think/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [Let me, tonight look back across the span Twixt dawn and dark, and to my conscience say- Because of some good act to beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/let-me-tonight-look-back-across-the-span-twixt-dawn-and-dark-and-to/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Pay little attention to discouragement as possible. Plough ahead as a steamer does, rough or smooth - rain or shine. To carry your cargo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/pay-little-attention-to-discouragement-as-possible-plough-ahead-as-a/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](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/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Fate quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [Fate with impartial hand turns out the doom of high and low; her capacious urn is constantly shaking the names of all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/fate-with-impartial-hand-turns-out-the-doom-of-high-and-low-her/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) [Simen Agdestein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simen-agdestein/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What would have been the fate of sages if there were no fools?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/what-would-have-been-the-fate-of-sages-if-there-were-no-fools/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Do we make ourselves into what we become or is it built into our genes, into the fate spun for us by whatever shapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bruchac/do-we-make-ourselves-into-what-we-become-or-is-it-built-into-our/) [Joseph Bruchac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bruchac/) [Browse all 5,152 Fate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today: Be fair or foul or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed in spite of fate are mine. 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