--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What can we ever gain in forever looking…" description: "\"“What can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The hard reality i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_quote_what-can-we-ever-gain-in-forever-looking_2117996.jpg" --- # What can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming… ![“What can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and I, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately, in the hands of those great gentlemen…” quote by Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_quote_what-can-we-ever-gain-in-forever-looking_2117996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_quote_what-can-we-ever-gain-in-forever-looking_2117996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_quote_what-can-we-ever-gain-in-forever-looking_2117996.jpg) > ““What can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and I, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately, in the hands of those great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services. What is the point in worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one’s life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that is in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment.”” [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accept limited control over fate, focus on meaningful contribution and personal pride. **In simple terms:** Control is limited; act meaningfully. Key Takeaway Contribute sincerely, let go of regret. Themes fate responsibility pride Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - social activism - creative projects - life planning Key Concepts existentialism ethics Questions to Reflect On - What small actions can you take now? - How do you balance acceptance with agency? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on acceptance can breed passivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspirations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspirations/) [Aspirations Surely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspirations-surely-2580300/) [Gain Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gain-forever-4307347/) [Pursue Aspirations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-aspirations-2580299/) [Sacrifice Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-life/) ## Related quotes > [What is the point of worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one's life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/what-is-the-point-of-worrying-oneself-too-much-about-what-one-could/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and me, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-hard-reality-is-surely-that-for-the-likes-of-you-and-me-there-is/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [After all, what can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/after-all-what-can-we-ever-gain-in-forever-looking-back-and-blaming/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“Chase your dreams confidently. Pursue your aspirations positively. Execute your goals expectantly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/chase-your-dreams-confidently-pursue-your-aspirations-positively/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Don't sacrifice your life to work and ideals. The most important things in life are human relations. I found that out too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-susannah-prichard/don-t-sacrifice-your-life-to-work-and-ideals-the-most-important/) [Katharine Susannah Prichard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-susannah-prichard/) > [“The sacrifice of life is, in many cases, the easiest of all sacrifices”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-sacrifice-of-life-is-in-many-cases-the-easiest-of-all-sacrifices/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“unfortunately, these young men do not understand that the sacrifice of life is, perhaps, the easiest of all sacrifices in many cases, while to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/unfortunately-these-young-men-do-not-understand-that-the-sacrifice-of/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“No mere mortal can do what the Son of man did; Christ Jesus sacrifice is life to save mankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/no-mere-mortal-can-do-what-the-son-of-man-did-christ-jesus-sacrifice/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Christ Jesus sacrifice is life to save mankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/christ-jesus-sacrifice-is-life-to-save-mankind/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Comrades ! You have voluntarily accepted a mission that is the noblest that the human mind can conceive of. For the fulfillment of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhas-chandra-bose/comrades-you-have-voluntarily-accepted-a-mission-that-is-the-noblest/) [Subhas Chandra Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhas-chandra-bose/) > [“Sometimes you have to risk life, in order to live, and gamble death, to sacrifice life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/sometimes-you-have-to-risk-life-in-order-to-live-and-gamble-death-to/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [I have enormous respect for anyone who would offer to sacrifice their life to defend my right to live. Is there any greater gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-have-enormous-respect-for-anyone-who-would-offer-to-sacrifice-their/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“You didn’t get it. Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-didn-t-get-it-sacrifice-is-a-part-of-life-it-s-supposed-to-be-it/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Though these young men unhappily fail to understand that the sacrifice of life is, in many cases, the easiest of all sacrifices, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-these-young-men-unhappily-fail-to-understand-that-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kazuo Ishiguro > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [As a writer, I'm more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/as-a-writer-i-m-more-interested-in-what-people-tell-themselves/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“About him and his wife voting for different parties. A few years ago that would have been unthinkable.” “No doubt.” “Quite extraordinary the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/about-him-and-his-wife-voting-for-different-parties-a-few-years-ago/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“But what is the sense in forever speculating what might have happened had such and such a moment turned out differently? One could presumably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/but-what-is-the-sense-in-forever-speculating-what-might-have-happened/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“Silence is just as likely to indicate the most profound ideas forming, the deepest energies being summoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/silence-is-just-as-likely-to-indicate-the-most-profound-ideas-forming/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“I don't know why, but it didn't seem an option for more than one of us to storm off, and I wanted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-don-t-know-why-but-it-didn-t-seem-an-option-for-more-than-one-of-us/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [Our family arrived in England in 1960. At that time I thought the war was ancient history. But if I think of 15 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/our-family-arrived-in-england-in-1960-at-that-time-i-thought-the-war/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [He chose a certain path in life, it proved to be a misguided one, but there, he chose it, he can say that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/he-chose-a-certain-path-in-life-it-proved-to-be-a-misguided-one-but/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“For however one may come in later years to reassess one’s achievements, it is always a consolation to know that one’s life has contained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/for-however-one-may-come-in-later-years-to-reassess-one-s/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [You're always in a rush, or else you're too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Soon enough, the long hours, the traveling, the broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/you-re-always-in-a-rush-or-else-you-re-too-exhausted-to-have-a-proper/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I don't think it's any fun, even if you are one of the most respected authors in the world like Margaret Atwood, to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-don-t-think-it-s-any-fun-even-if-you-are-one-of-the-most-respected/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I think it's quite difficult to understand what kind of life a writer leads. They might be millionaires, or they might be starving people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-think-it-s-quite-difficult-to-understand-what-kind-of-life-a-writer/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“But this small episode is as good an illustration as any of the hazards of uttering witticisms. By the very nature of a witticism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/but-this-small-episode-is-as-good-an-illustration-as-any-of-the/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [There comes a point when you can more or less count the number of books you're going to write before you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/there-comes-a-point-when-you-can-more-or-less-count-the-number-of/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [My wife is the most savage critic. She doesn't feel intimidated by my reputation. As far as she's concerned, she's just criticising a boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/my-wife-is-the-most-savage-critic-she-doesn-t-feel-intimidated-by-my/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) [Explore all 292 Kazuo Ishiguro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) ## More Aspirations quotes > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I'm not walking around saying I am the best in the world but I'll always have aspirations to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsdale/i-m-not-walking-around-saying-i-am-the-best-in-the-world-but-i-ll/) [Aaron Ramsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsdale/) > [For 20 years, I've been running an institute in Chennai where serious dancers from Kerala come with aspirations of becoming professional dancers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shobana/for-20-years-i-ve-been-running-an-institute-in-chennai-where-serious/) [Shobana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shobana/) > [“All beings begin their lives with hope and aspirations. Among these aspirations is the desire that there will be a straight path to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/all-beings-begin-their-lives-with-hope-and-aspirations-among-these/) [Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/) > [I've definitely become smuttier. When I first started out, I had these aspirations: 'I'm not going to do jokes about anything crude because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-ve-definitely-become-smuttier-when-i-first-started-out-i-had-these/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [I want to make sure that I fulfill the aspirations of the Gabonese people: to have access to a better life, job opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bongo-ondimba/i-want-to-make-sure-that-i-fulfill-the-aspirations-of-the-gabonese/) [Ali Bongo Ondimba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bongo-ondimba/) > [“The vision of life is not a "discovery"; it's a "work" and whatever position you occupy demands work. Your life may not be built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-vision-of-life-is-not-a-discovery-it-s-a-work-and-whatever/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [A family needs to work as a team, supporting each other's individual aims and aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/a-family-needs-to-work-as-a-team-supporting-each-other-s-individual/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [The powers, aspirations, and mission of man are such as to raise the study of his origin and nature, inevitably and by the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-powers-aspirations-and-mission-of-man-are-such-as-to-raise-the/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [When I joined films, I was clueless about the industry and had no aspirations to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-swami/when-i-joined-films-i-was-clueless-about-the-industry-and-had-no/) [Arvind Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-swami/) > [Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/every-little-kid-that-steps-on-the-court-or-the-field-has-aspirations/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-most-absurd-and-reckless-aspirations-have-sometimes-led-to/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Sometimes fulfilling your dreams and aspirations means being a part of helping others fulfill theirs. In the end, we rise or fall together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-fulfilling-your-dreams-and-aspirations-means-being-a-part/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your aspirations to shreds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-chemical-romance/your-aspirations-to-shreds/) [My Chemical Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/my-chemical-romance/) [Browse all 511 Aspirations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspirations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The hard reality is, surely, that for the likes of you and I, there is little choice other than to leave our fate, ultimately, in the hands of those great gentlemen at the hub of this world who employ our services. 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