--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most reliable way to forecast the…" description: "\"The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present.\" — John Naisbitt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png" --- # The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to… ![“The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present.” quote by John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png) > “The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present.” [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding today’s conditions is the best method to predict future events. **In simple terms:** Know the present to forecast the future. Key Takeaway Study current trends to anticipate change. Themes forecasting trend analysis present focus future planning Mood analytical strategic inquisitive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - policy making - personal career planning - investment decisions Key Concepts economics sociology strategic foresight Questions to Reflect On - What present signs indicate upcoming shifts? - How do you stay informed? A Different Perspective Future unpredictability can limit accuracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forecast Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forecast-future-1024058/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-try-758894/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try to understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-to-understand/) [Understand Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-present-508608/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Forecast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-forecast-1798863/) ## Related quotes > [I try not to forecast the future and look down the road as far as my wrestling, because it's there. 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The children are the future, so give them a try...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrington-levy/see-all-i-m-tryna-do-is-just-get-on-with-my-life-the-children-are-the/) [Barrington Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrington-levy/) > [The whole key of the profitable everyday living will be to discover out what's one's future to try and do, and after that do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-whole-key-of-the-profitable-everyday-living-will-be-to-discover/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Our task - and the task of all education - is to understand the present world, the world in which we live and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/our-task-and-the-task-of-all-education-is-to-understand-the-present/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Youth instinctively understand the present environment - the electric drama. It lives mythically and in depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/youth-instinctively-understand-the-present-environment-the-electric/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) ## More by John Naisbitt > [Almost all change is evolutionary, not revolutionary... expectations always travel at higher speeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/almost-all-change-is-evolutionary-not-revolutionary-expectations/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [One of the best kept secrets in America is that people are aching to make a commitment, if they only had the freedom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/one-of-the-best-kept-secrets-in-america-is-that-people-are-aching-to/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [In turbulent times, in times of great change, people head for the two extremes: fundamentalism and personal, spiritual experience...With no membership lists or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/in-turbulent-times-in-times-of-great-change-people-head-for-the-two/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [“The modernization of Asia will forever reshape the world as we move toward the next millennium.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/the-modernization-of-asia-will-forever-reshape-the-world-as-we-move/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/we-are-drowning-in-information-but-starved-for-knowledge/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [In an information society, education is no mere amenity; it is the prime tool for growing people and profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/in-an-information-society-education-is-no-mere-amenity-it-is-the/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [The new leader is a facilitator, not an order giver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/the-new-leader-is-a-facilitator-not-an-order-giver/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [In sales, as in medicine, a prescription before diagnosis is a mistake in the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/in-sales-as-in-medicine-a-prescription-before-diagnosis-is-a-mistake/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [Globalization is a bottom-up phenomenon with all actions initiated by milions of individuals, the sum total of which is globalization. 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In just my lifetime we have gone from a taboo to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/i-was-totally-surprised-by-the-spread-of-the-legalization-of-same-sex/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [“Don't get so far in front of the parade that no one knows you're in the parade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/don-t-get-so-far-in-front-of-the-parade-that-no-one-knows-you-re-in/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [Trends, like horses, are easier to ride in the direction they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/trends-like-horses-are-easier-to-ride-in-the-direction-they-are-going/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [...countries don't create economies. It is entrepreneurs and companies that create and revitalize economies. 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If you work in a hierarchy, you may not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/in-the-network-model-rewards-come-by-empowering-others-not-by/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) [Explore all 48 John Naisbitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) ## More Future quotes > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. 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On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [“We have no idea, now, of who or what the inhabitants of our future might be. In that sense, we have no future. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/we-have-no-idea-now-of-who-or-what-the-inhabitants-of-our-future/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [Football is my passion, and who knows where I will play in the future - you cannot foresee that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/football-is-my-passion-and-who-knows-where-i-will-play-in-the-future/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [I think everybody in the future has stopped talking to each other and we all just use emojis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/i-think-everybody-in-the-future-has-stopped-talking-to-each-other-and/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [When you continue to dwell on the past, there's no chance for a future. History repeats itself, thus, it's ok to LOOK back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-continue-to-dwell-on-the-past-there-s-no-chance-for-a-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) [Browse all 12,349 Future quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Naisbitt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-future-is-to-try-to-understand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-future-is-to-try-to-understand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/john-naisbitt-14068_future_the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-fu_1773280.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most reliable way to forecast the future is to try to understand the present.” — John Naisbitt", "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": "John Naisbitt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most reliable way to forecast...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-future-is-to-try-to-understand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/the-most-reliable-way-to-forecast-the-future-is-to-try-to-understand/#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 } } ] } ```