---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know how it will be in the years…"
description: "\"“I don't know how it will be in the years to come. There are monstrous changes taking place in the world, forces shaping a future whose face we do not ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg"
---

#  I don't know how it will be in the years to come. There…

![“I don't know how it will be in the years to come. There are monstrous changes taking place in the world, forces shaping a future whose face we do not know. Some of these forces seem evil to us, perhaps not in themselves but because their tendency is to eliminate other things we hold good… At such…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg)

> ““I don't know how it will be in the years to come. There are monstrous changes taking place in the world, forces shaping a future whose face we do not know. Some of these forces seem evil to us, perhaps not in themselves but because their tendency is to eliminate other things we hold good… At such a time it seems natural and good to me to ask myself these questions. What do I believe in? What must I fight for and what must I fight against?””

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

## 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 reflects on unpredictable, powerful forces shaping the future, urging personal introspection about values and battles to fight.

**In simple terms:** Consider what you truly value and what you must oppose.

Key Takeaway

Identify core beliefs and act on them.

Themes

change uncertainty values conflict future

Mood

reflective serious determined

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- political activism
- personal decision making
- community organizing
- ethical debates

Key Concepts

existentialism ethical decision-making political philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What values guide you in uncertain times?
- How do you decide what to fight for?

A Different Perspective

The future is uncertain, making it hard to predict outcomes of actions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Questions Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-believe-413696/) [Shaping Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaping-future-349660/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Years Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-come/)

## Related quotes

> [“At such a time it seems natural and good to me to ask myself these questions. What do I believe in? What must I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-such-a-time-it-seems-natural-and-good-to-me-to-ask-myself-these/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I always was kind of on the edge of the church when I was fully in it , cos I was always asking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-donohue/i-always-was-kind-of-on-the-edge-of-the-church-when-i-was-fully-in-it/)

[John O'Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-donohue/)

> [There are monstrous changes taking place in the world, forces shaping a future whose face we do not know. Some of these forces seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-are-monstrous-changes-taking-place-in-the-world-forces-shaping/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“There are monstrous changes taking place in the world, forces shaping a future whose face we do not know. Some of these forces seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-are-monstrous-changes-taking-place-in-the-world-forces-shaping-2/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [You don't have to stop thinking and asking questions to believe in God, child. If He'd wanted a flock of eight billion sheep, He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/you-don-t-have-to-stop-thinking-and-asking-questions-to-believe-in/)

[Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/)

> [Whenever you're unsure of yourself, whenever you're in doubt, ask yourself three questions. What do you believe in? What do you hope for? but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/whenever-you-re-unsure-of-yourself-whenever-you-re-in-doubt-ask/)

[Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/)

> [“You must see yourself with it before you can have it. It comes down to three questions: 1. Do you believe you can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-see-yourself-with-it-before-you-can-have-it-it-comes-down-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You don't need to see the answer. You just need to ask the questions and believe the answer exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/you-don-t-need-to-see-the-answer-you-just-need-to-ask-the-questions/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“For now, I look to God, for I know He will respond to my questions. For I believe, in the deepest part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-silber/for-now-i-look-to-god-for-i-know-he-will-respond-to-my-questions-for/)

[Alexandra Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-silber/)

> [I really believe that parents need to know they are shaping the future of their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-graham/i-really-believe-that-parents-need-to-know-they-are-shaping-the/)

[Ashley Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-graham/)

> [Shaping the future is what drives me. Since I left politics, I'm very much interested in emerging markets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-shipley/shaping-the-future-is-what-drives-me-since-i-left-politics-i-m-very/)

[Jenny Shipley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-shipley/)

> [What I am thinking and doing day by day is resistlessly shaping my future - a future in which there is no expiation except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/what-i-am-thinking-and-doing-day-by-day-is-resistlessly-shaping-my-2/)

[Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/)

> [The future's so random, and so mobile, there's no way you're going to get to your vision of what you want your community to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bass/the-future-s-so-random-and-so-mobile-there-s-no-way-you-re-going-to/)

[Rick Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bass/)

> [“Having clear goals is a way of shaping your future. Where you are today, is partly a result of what you did or didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-clear-goals-is-a-way-of-shaping-your-future-where-you-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What I am thinking and doing day by day is resistlessly shaping my future, — a future in which there is no expiation except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/what-i-am-thinking-and-doing-day-by-day-is-resistlessly-shaping-my/)

[Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/)

## More by John Steinbeck

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“You come back a changed man. Samuel, you don’t change him. He changes you. I can see the look of him in your face.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-come-back-a-changed-man-samuel-you-don-t-change-him-he-changes/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-find-out-of-long-experience-that-i-admire-all-nations-and-hate-all/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

[Explore all 1,589 John Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

[Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/)

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I don't know how it will be in the years to come. There are monstrous changes taking place in the world, forces shaping a future whose face we do not know. Some of these forces seem evil to us, perhaps not in themselves but because their tendency is to eliminate other things we hold good… At such a time it seems natural and good to me to ask myself these questions. What do I believe in? What must I fight for and what must I fight against?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Steinbeck"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years-to-come-there-are-monstrous/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years-to-come-there-are-monstrous/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-steinbeck-71_change_i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years_413993.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't know how it will be in the years to come. There are monstrous changes taking place in the world…” — John Steinbeck",
                "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 Steinbeck",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I don't know how it will...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years-to-come-there-are-monstrous/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-know-how-it-will-be-in-the-years-to-come-there-are-monstrous/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
