--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very long tail of the future is…" description: "\"The very long tail of the future is already here.\" — Kevin Kelly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png" --- # The very long tail of the future is already here. ![“The very long tail of the future is already here.” quote by Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png) > “The very long tail of the future is already here.” [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future technologies and trends are already present in small, emerging forms. **In simple terms:** The future is already here. Key Takeaway Embrace emerging innovations early. Themes technology future innovation Mood optimistic forward‑looking Type technological inspirational When to use this quote - startup culture - tech investment - personal skill development Key Concepts early adoption long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - Which current trends will shape tomorrow? - How can you prepare for rapid change? A Different Perspective Not all emerging tech will succeed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Tail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-tail-287939/) [Tail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tail/) [Tail Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tail-future-1908561/) [Tails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tails/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Anderson's The Long Tail”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-n-davidson/anderson-s-the-long-tail/) [Cathy N. Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-n-davidson/) > [A true marketplace is a treasure of long tail products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saurabh-pandey/a-true-marketplace-is-a-treasure-of-long-tail-products/) [Saurabh Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saurabh-pandey/) > [There's a very long tail of all sorts of creative products - beyond our core web search, image search and advertising businesses - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/there-s-a-very-long-tail-of-all-sorts-of-creative-products-beyond-our/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [“you can more easily turn your top few sellers into super performers than bring up the laggards. Again, long tail principles apply—the long tail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-sorensen/you-can-more-easily-turn-your-top-few-sellers-into-super-performers/) [Herb Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-sorensen/) > [“Google Adwords, Long Tail Pro and Market Samurai. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scott/google-adwords-long-tail-pro-and-market-samurai/) [Steve Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scott/) > [“Retailers need to limit or manage these long tail products effectively, so they do not confuse or overwhelm the shopper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-sorensen/retailers-need-to-limit-or-manage-these-long-tail-products/) [Herb Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-sorensen/) > [In the whole history of the world there is but one thing that money cannot buy...to wit--the wag of a dog's tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/in-the-whole-history-of-the-world-there-is-but-one-thing-that-money/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [I thought I had the world by the tail. It took me a few years to realize the closest I was to having the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-thought-i-had-the-world-by-the-tail-it-took-me-a-few-years-to/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [I would rather be the head of a fly than the tail of a lion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-would-rather-be-the-head-of-a-fly-than-the-tail-of-a-lion/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [If a cat had a halo, it would probably wear it around it's tail. It makes a statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aragones/if-a-cat-had-a-halo-it-would-probably-wear-it-around-it-s-tail-it/) [Sergio Aragones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aragones/) > [Go slowly, so that you do not bite your tail by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/go-slowly-so-that-you-do-not-bite-your-tail-by-accident/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [As I get older I perceive Life has its tail in its mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/as-i-get-older-i-perceive-life-has-its-tail-in-its-mouth/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Speak of a wolf and you see his tail!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/speak-of-a-wolf-and-you-see-his-tail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're born with a tail, you learn to go through doors fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-wagner/when-you-re-born-with-a-tail-you-learn-to-go-through-doors-fast/) [Kurt Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-wagner/) > [TAIL, n. The part of an animal's spine that has transcended its natural limitations to set up an independent existence in a world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tail-n-the-part-of-an-animal-s-spine-that-has-transcended-its-natural/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More by Kevin Kelly > [We are reaching deep within ourselves to adjust the master knob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-are-reaching-deep-within-ourselves-to-adjust-the-master-knob/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [This is the culmination of a lot of people's vision. I think this is just another step towards making Central Michigan football among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/this-is-the-culmination-of-a-lot-of-people-s-vision-i-think-this-is/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [“When copies are free, you need to sell things that cannot be copied. Well, what can’t be copied? Trust, for instance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/when-copies-are-free-you-need-to-sell-things-that-cannot-be-copied/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [“Existence, it seems, is chiefly maintenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/existence-it-seems-is-chiefly-maintenance/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [“We have no certainty we’ll contact extraterrestrial beings from one of the billion earthlike planets in the sky in the next 200 years, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-have-no-certainty-we-ll-contact-extraterrestrial-beings-from-one/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Changing things from the top down works when things are stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/changing-things-from-the-top-down-works-when-things-are-stable/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [It's generally much easier to kill an organization than to change it substantially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/it-s-generally-much-easier-to-kill-an-organization-than-to-change-it/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [The only organization capable of unprejudiced growth, or unguided learning, is a network. All othertopologies limit what can happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-only-organization-capable-of-unprejudiced-growth-or-unguided/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [We have to get better at believing the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-have-to-get-better-at-believing-the-impossible/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [“Our most important mechanical inventions are not machines that do what humans do better, but machines that can do things we can’t do at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/our-most-important-mechanical-inventions-are-not-machines-that-do/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [“In the universal library, no book will be an island. It’s all connected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/in-the-universal-library-no-book-will-be-an-island-it-s-all-connected/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Singularity is the point at which "all the change in the last million years will be superseded by the change in the next five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/singularity-is-the-point-at-which-all-the-change-in-the-last-million/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [We tend to think of the mind of an organization residing in the CEO and the organization's top managers, perhaps with the help of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-tend-to-think-of-the-mind-of-an-organization-residing-in-the-ceo/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [The smallest thought could not exist unless the entire universe and the laws of physics were in some way encouraging it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-smallest-thought-could-not-exist-unless-the-entire-universe-and/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [“From the days of Sumerian clay tablets until now, humans have “published” at least 310 million books, 1.4 billion articles and essays, 180 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/from-the-days-of-sumerian-clay-tablets-until-now-humans-have/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) [Explore all 167 Kevin Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) ## 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. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [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/) > [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 very long tail of the future is already here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Kelly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-already-here/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-already-here/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/kevin-kelly-2418_future_the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-alre_976256.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The very long tail of the future is already here.” — Kevin Kelly", "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": "Kevin Kelly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The very long tail of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-already-here/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-very-long-tail-of-the-future-is-already-here/#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 } } ] } ```