--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know not of the future, and cannot…" description: "\"We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg" --- # We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much… ![“We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever and wherever the hour stricks…” quote by Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg) > “We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever and wherever the hour stricks that calls to noble action..., No man becomes suddenly different from his habit and cherished thought.” [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot predict the future, but by keeping our minds and bodies pure we can shape our destiny through noble intentions. **In simple terms:** Pure intentions guide future self. Key Takeaway Cultivate purity of thought and action. Themes virtue self‑determination purpose habit Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - military leadership - personal development - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology of habit future self Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain purity of thought under pressure? - What habits support noble action? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with harsh realities; purity alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cherish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherish/) [Cherish Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherish-thoughts-4210128/) [Cherished Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherished-thought-4338515/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Hold Spirits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-spirits-4630981/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Ideals Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals-dream-4630982/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lofty/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Thoughts Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-ideals-1876220/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and such ideals, and dream such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-we-can-hold-our-spirits-and-our-bodies-so-pure-and-high-we-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rains-trulock/we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-plan-for-it-much-but-we-can-hold/) [Alice Rains Trulock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rains-trulock/) > [“I am not Weird, Neither am I anti-social, there are just times in my life when the only company I cherish is; Me, Myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-iyogun/i-am-not-weird-neither-am-i-anti-social-there-are-just-times-in-my/) [Kelly Iyogun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-iyogun/) > [If there be no eternal life, still the enjoyment of spiritual thoughts as ideals is keener and makes a man happier, whilst the foolery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-there-be-no-eternal-life-still-the-enjoyment-of-spiritual-thoughts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I can recapture everything when I write, my thoughts, my ideals and my fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/i-can-recapture-everything-when-i-write-my-thoughts-my-ideals-and-my/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [The record of what you do is forever recoverable because of Google. The lofty upside and scary downside makes reciprocity more important than ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/the-record-of-what-you-do-is-forever-recoverable-because-of-google/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [Let man then contemplate nature in full and lofty majesty, and turn his eyes away from the mean objects which surround him. Let him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/let-man-then-contemplate-nature-in-full-and-lofty-majesty-and-turn/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Of all trees, I observe God hath chosen the vine, a low plant that creeps upon the helpful wall; of all beasts, the soft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/of-all-trees-i-observe-god-hath-chosen-the-vine-a-low-plant-that/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Lofty mountains are full of springs; great hearts are full of tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philibert-joseph-roux/lofty-mountains-are-full-of-springs-great-hearts-are-full-of-tears/) [Philibert Joseph Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philibert-joseph-roux/) > [Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming, complaining and excuse making, and keep taking action in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/remember-you-and-you-alone-are-responsible-for-maintaining-your/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [When greatness descends from its lofty pedestal, it assumes human dimensions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-colet/when-greatness-descends-from-its-lofty-pedestal-it-assumes-human/) [Louise Colet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-colet/) > [A lofty sense of independence is, in man, the best privilege of his nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/a-lofty-sense-of-independence-is-in-man-the-best-privilege-of-his/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [Nearly all the Gauls are of a lofty stature, white, and of ruddy complexion; terrible from the sternness of their eyes, very quarrelsome, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammianus-marcellinus/nearly-all-the-gauls-are-of-a-lofty-stature-white-and-of-ruddy/) [Ammianus Marcellinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammianus-marcellinus/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) ## More by Joshua Chamberlain > [Mounting a large rock, I was able to see a considerable body of the enemy moving by the flank in rear of their line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/mounting-a-large-rock-i-was-able-to-see-a-considerable-body-of-the/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [We know not of the future and cannot plan for it much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-plan-for-it-much/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [Let me say no danger and no hardship ever makes me wish to get back to that college life again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/let-me-say-no-danger-and-no-hardship-ever-makes-me-wish-to-get-back/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [“In great deeds, something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate the ground for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/in-great-deeds-something-abides-on-great-fields-something-stays-forms/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [The power of noble deeds is to be preserved and passed on to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/the-power-of-noble-deeds-is-to-be-preserved-and-passed-on-to-the/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [A radiant fellowship of the fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/a-radiant-fellowship-of-the-fallen/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [The pageant has passed. That day is over. But we linger, loath to think we shall see them no more together - these men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/the-pageant-has-passed-that-day-is-over-but-we-linger-loath-to-think/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [The inspiration of a noble cause enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/the-inspiration-of-a-noble-cause-enables-men-to-do-things-they-did/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [I long to be in the Field again, doing my part to keep the old flag up, with all its stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/i-long-to-be-in-the-field-again-doing-my-part-to-keep-the-old-flag-up/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [Just after writing those we were called up to defend a new position on the left, where the terrible storming of the bridge over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/just-after-writing-those-we-were-called-up-to-defend-a-new-position/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [The inspiration of a noble cause involving human interests wide and far, enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/the-inspiration-of-a-noble-cause-involving-human-interests-wide-and/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [We have to go in places no body would ever think of going into were it not for the necessities of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-have-to-go-in-places-no-body-would-ever-think-of-going-into-were/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [My officers and men understood wishes so well that this movement was executed under fire, the right wing keeping up fire, without giving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/my-officers-and-men-understood-wishes-so-well-that-this-movement-was/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [The edge of the conflict swayed to and fro, with wild whirlpools and eddies. At times I saw around me more of the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/the-edge-of-the-conflict-swayed-to-and-fro-with-wild-whirlpools-and/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [I never could be a partisan leader - a man of one idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/i-never-could-be-a-partisan-leader-a-man-of-one-idea/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) [Explore all 24 Joshua Chamberlain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever and wherever the hour stricks that calls to noble action..., No man becomes suddenly different from his habit and cherished thought.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joshua Chamberlain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-plan-for-it-much-but-we-can-hold-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-plan-for-it-much-but-we-can-hold-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/joshua-chamberlain-24426_action_we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-pla_1397733.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure…” — Joshua Chamberlain", "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": "Joshua Chamberlain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We know not of the future,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-plan-for-it-much-but-we-can-hold-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-know-not-of-the-future-and-cannot-plan-for-it-much-but-we-can-hold-2/#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 } } ] } ```