--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world moves into the future as a…" description: "\"The world moves into the future as a result of decisions, not as a result of plans. Plans are significant only insofar as they affect decisions.\" — Ken..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png" --- # The world moves into the future as a result of decisions… ![“The world moves into the future as a result of decisions, not as a result of plans. Plans are significant only insofar as they affect decisions.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png) > “The world moves into the future as a result of decisions, not as a result of plans. Plans are significant only insofar as they affect decisions.” [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Decisions shape outcomes; plans matter only when they guide choices. **In simple terms:** Choices drive progress, not plans alone. Key Takeaway Focus on decisive action. Themes decision‑making future agency Mood analytical forward‑looking Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - policy making - personal life Key Concepts strategic planning choice theory impact Questions to Reflect On - What decisions have most shaped your life? - How can plans stay adaptable? A Different Perspective Plans can become rigid, limiting flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“This is often the way one moves into the future. For what you begin to see, there is no ready language. If you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/this-is-often-the-way-one-moves-into-the-future-for-what-you-begin-to/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [However painful or regrettable Brexit may be, it will not stop the E.U. as it moves to the future; we need to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/however-painful-or-regrettable-brexit-may-be-it-will-not-stop-the-e-u/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I am a strong believer that as one moves toward the future, the strongest and clearest way to do it is if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-am-a-strong-believer-that-as-one-moves-toward-the-future-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [New York is the financial capital of the world. Everything moves so fast, and the music is fast, and some of it is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhymefest/new-york-is-the-financial-capital-of-the-world-everything-moves-so/) [Rhymefest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhymefest/) > [“The world moves on so fast, and we lose all chance of being the women our mothers were; we lose all understanding of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-world-moves-on-so-fast-and-we-lose-all-chance-of-being-the-women/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [The slowest of us cannot but admit that the world moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/the-slowest-of-us-cannot-but-admit-that-the-world-moves/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Ka works and the world moves on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/ka-works-and-the-world-moves-on/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Have you noticed," she asked him, "how standing still can sometimes be no different from moving backward? For the whole world moves on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/have-you-noticed-she-asked-him-how-standing-still-can-sometimes-be-no/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [And so everything I see in this world, it all moves backward and forward at the same time, like a black-smith's bellows, like everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohumil-hrabal/and-so-everything-i-see-in-this-world-it-all-moves-backward-and/) [Bohumil Hrabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohumil-hrabal/) > [But the world moves on, even when you don't want it to, even when change feels like the end of everything. It never stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/but-the-world-moves-on-even-when-you-don-t-want-it-to-even-when-2/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [“At first, he only continues walking. Only when I look down on our feet do I realize that we're actually going nowhere. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/at-first-he-only-continues-walking-only-when-i-look-down-on-our-feet/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Lifes hard, but you don't become the person that you are by playing with feathers and silly foam (ha ha, silly) it's hard because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-howe/lifes-hard-but-you-don-t-become-the-person-that-you-are-by-playing/) J R Howe > [The world moves, but we seem to move with it. When I studied physiology beforethere were two hundred and eight bones in the body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/the-world-moves-but-we-seem-to-move-with-it-when-i-studied-physiology/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [But the world moves on, even when you don’t want it to, even when change feels like the end of everything. It never stops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/but-the-world-moves-on-even-when-you-don-t-want-it-to-even-when/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [“In a world that moves in seconds, silence can be the loudest mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamail-aijaz/in-a-world-that-moves-in-seconds-silence-can-be-the-loudest-mistake/) [Shamail Aijaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamail-aijaz/) ## More by Kenneth E. Boulding > [ \[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy\] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-chosen-taxonomy-a-set-of/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [If we saw tomorrow's newspaper today, tomorrow would never happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/if-we-saw-tomorrow-s-newspaper-today-tomorrow-would-never-happen/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [It is clear that the building of models is not a purely mechanical process but requires skill of a high order - not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/it-is-clear-that-the-building-of-models-is-not-a-purely-mechanical/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Even personal tastes are learned, in the matrix of a culture or a subculture in which we grow up, by very much the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/even-personal-tastes-are-learned-in-the-matrix-of-a-culture-or-a/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [In view of the importance of philanthropy in our society, it is surprising that so little attention has been given to it by economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/in-view-of-the-importance-of-philanthropy-in-our-society-it-is/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Humble, honest, ignorance is one of the finest flowers of the human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/humble-honest-ignorance-is-one-of-the-finest-flowers-of-the-human/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [ \[The question for the behavioral disciplines is simply\] what is better, and how do we get there? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-question-for-the-behavioral-disciplines-is-simply-what-is-better/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [ \[Even the mechanism can be endowed with an image. Thus\] the thermostat has an image of the outside world in the shape of information… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/even-the-mechanism-can-be-endowed-with-an-image-thus-the-thermostat/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Economic problems have no sharp edges. They shade off imperceptibly into politics, sociology, and ethics. Indeed, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/economic-problems-have-no-sharp-edges-they-shade-off-imperceptibly/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Mathematicians themselves set up standards of generality and elegance in their exposition which are a bar to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/mathematicians-themselves-set-up-standards-of-generality-and-elegance/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [The concept of need is often looked upon rather unfavorably by economists, in contrast with the concept of demand. Both, however, have their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-concept-of-need-is-often-looked-upon-rather-unfavorably-by/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Conventions of generality and mathematical elegance may be just as much barriers to the attainment and diffusion of knowledge as may contentment with particularity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/conventions-of-generality-and-mathematical-elegance-may-be-just-as/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Nothing fails like success, because we do not learn anything from it. We only learn from failure, but we do not always learn the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/nothing-fails-like-success-because-we-do-not-learn-anything-from-it/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [At the opposite pole from the gift is tribute - that is, a grant made out of fear and under threat. A threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/at-the-opposite-pole-from-the-gift-is-tribute-that-is-a-grant-made/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Reality, in its quantitative aspect, must be considered as a system of populations... The general study of the equilibria and dynamics of populations seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/reality-in-its-quantitative-aspect-must-be-considered-as-a-system-of/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) [Explore all 123 Kenneth E. Boulding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world moves into the future as a result of decisions, not as a result of plans. Plans are significant only insofar as they affect decisions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenneth E. Boulding" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-result-of-decisions-not-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-result-of-decisions-not-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_decision_the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-res_393512.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world moves into the future as a result of decisions, not as a result of plans. Plans are significant…” — Kenneth E. Boulding", "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": "Kenneth E. Boulding", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The world moves into the future...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-result-of-decisions-not-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-world-moves-into-the-future-as-a-result-of-decisions-not-as-a/#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 } } ] } ```