--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The past is history. The future is a…" description: "\"The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.\" — Lisa Unger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/lisa-unger-3678_future_the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-myst_495768.png" --- # The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present… ![“The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.” quote by Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/lisa-unger-3678_future_the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-myst_495768.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/lisa-unger-3678_future_the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-myst_495768.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/lisa-unger-3678_future_the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-myst_495768.png) > “The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.” [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that past events are fixed, future outcomes are unknown, and the present moment should be valued as a precious opportunity. **In simple terms:** Past is fixed, future unknown, present is valuable. Key Takeaway Appreciate and live fully now. Themes mindfulness time perspective Mood reflective calm Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily decisions - stress management - gratitude practice - goal setting Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor the past without being trapped by it? - What actions make the present feel like a gift? A Different Perspective It may overlook that some past events shape present possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Is A Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-is-a-mystery/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-future-435602/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-history-651294/) [Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present/) [Present Is A Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-is-a-gift-228560/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The past is history, the future is a mystery, today is a gift, that's way it's called the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-today-is-a-gift-that-s/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [What I've done in the past is history and what I'm gonna do in the future is a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/what-i-ve-done-in-the-past-is-history-and-what-i-m-gonna-do-in-the/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Your past is your history, your future is your destainy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-white/your-past-is-your-history-your-future-is-your-destainy/) [Marcus White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-white/) > [Your past is history, your future is mystery. But through continuous efforts in present you can shape your future as you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/your-past-is-history-your-future-is-mystery-but-through-continuous/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [The past is history, the future's a mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toback/the-past-is-history-the-future-s-a-mystery/) [James Toback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toback/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“When you are present, present is a gift - Oblivious to the present, present starts to drift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-you-are-present-present-is-a-gift-oblivious-to-the-present/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Never lookin' back or too far in front of me; the present is a gift and I just wanna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/never-lookin-back-or-too-far-in-front-of-me-the-present-is-a-gift-and/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > ['live life to the fullest and enjoy life now don't worry about the future and enjoy the present ,the present is a gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-life-to-the-fullest-and-enjoy-life-now-don-t-worry-about-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never looking back or too far in front of me, The present is a gift, and I just want to Be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-looking-back-or-too-far-in-front-of-me-the-present-is-a-gift/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present is a gift. So open your fucking gift, maybe you'll find peace in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery-but-the-present-is-a-gift-so/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“Past and future is determined by what is now…right now! This is why the present is a gift; the only one that ultimately matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/past-and-future-is-determined-by-what-is-now-right-now-this-is-why/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [I don,t wanna forget the present is a gift.and I don,t wanna take for granted the time you may have here with me.couse lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konghlapru/i-don-t-wanna-forget-the-present-is-a-gift-and-i-don-t-wanna-take-for/) [Konghlapru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konghlapru/) > [You accept things as they are, not as you wish they were in this moment...The past is history, the future is a mystery, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/you-accept-things-as-they-are-not-as-you-wish-they-were-in-this/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I lost a girlfriend when I was in my 30s. She was 46. It all sounds so trite, but I put a Post-it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bond/i-lost-a-girlfriend-when-i-was-in-my-30s-she-was-46-it-all-sounds-so/) [Samantha Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bond/) ## More by Lisa Unger > [“When they’re small, they’re part of you, on you in bed, showering with you, climbing onto your lap, holding on to your leg. Slowly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/when-they-re-small-they-re-part-of-you-on-you-in-bed-showering-with/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [“We hate our parents for having their own lives, don’t we, for making decisions for themselves that don’t seem to take us into account.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/we-hate-our-parents-for-having-their-own-lives-don-t-we-for-making/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [“Depression is not dramatic, but it is total. It’s sneaky - you almost don’t notice it at first. Like a cat burglar, it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/depression-is-not-dramatic-but-it-is-total-it-s-sneaky-you-almost-don/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [“...in the end it's not just the big and small events that make you who you are, make your life what it is, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/in-the-end-it-s-not-just-the-big-and-small-events-that-make-you-who/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [The Universe doesn't like secrets. It conspires to reveal the truth, to lead you to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/the-universe-doesn-t-like-secrets-it-conspires-to-reveal-the-truth-to/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [“We have more patience for girls who act like boys than boys who act like girls. A tomboy is considered cute. One day she’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/we-have-more-patience-for-girls-who-act-like-boys-than-boys-who-act/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [“You didn't wind up on a pole without a lot of help from your family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/you-didn-t-wind-up-on-a-pole-without-a-lot-of-help-from-your-family/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Writers are first and foremost observers. We lose ourselves in the watching and then the telling of the world we find. Often we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/writers-are-first-and-foremost-observers-we-lose-ourselves-in-the/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [I loved him so much. It didn't change all the reasons we couldn't be together, but it kept me returning to his body, kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/i-loved-him-so-much-it-didn-t-change-all-the-reasons-we-couldn-t-be/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [It was a strange lightness, a drifting feeling. Zero gravity. I understood that everything that once seemed solid and immovable might just float away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/it-was-a-strange-lightness-a-drifting-feeling-zero-gravity-i/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Of course, like all organic processes, there is an ebb and a flow to writing. One does not exist without the other. The writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/of-course-like-all-organic-processes-there-is-an-ebb-and-a-flow-to/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [When you start to really know someone, all his physical characteristics start to disappear. You begin to dwell in his energy, recognize the scent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/when-you-start-to-really-know-someone-all-his-physical/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [It's strange how memory gets twisted and pulled like taffy in its retelling, how a single event can mean something different to everyone present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/it-s-strange-how-memory-gets-twisted-and-pulled-like-taffy-in-its/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Many people believe that evil is the presence of something. I think it's the absence of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/many-people-believe-that-evil-is-the-presence-of-something-i-think-it/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Even if someone is overcome with rage, it takes amazing arrogance to kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/even-if-someone-is-overcome-with-rage-it-takes-amazing-arrogance-to/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) [Explore all 124 Lisa Unger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) ## 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 past is history. The future is a mystery. 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