--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little…" description: "\"If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little joy today.\" — Lloyd Alexander" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png" --- # If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little joy today. ![“If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little joy today.” quote by Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png) > “If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little joy today.” [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) ## 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 warns that worrying about the future steals present happiness, encouraging focus on today’s joy. **In simple terms:** Worrying about tomorrow reduces today’s joy. Key Takeaway Live in the present to preserve happiness. Themes mindfulness anxiety future present joy Mood thoughtful hopeful calm Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily journaling - stress reduction techniques - goal setting - mindful meditation - time management Key Concepts psychology philosophy well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance planning and present enjoyment? - What strategies reduce future‑oriented anxiety? A Different Perspective It may underestimate legitimate planning needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fret Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fret-tomorrow-6137568/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-today-882621/) [Little Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-joy-1117311/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Tomorrow Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow-ll-298468/) ## Related quotes > [Yesterday you're my love.Today you're my enemy.Tomorrow I'll really just have high expectations can bring true happiness for myself n all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achmad-tim-bukhari/yesterday-you-re-my-love-today-you-re-my-enemy-tomorrow-i-ll-really/) [Achmad Tim Bukhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achmad-tim-bukhari/) > [Tomorrow I'll get over you if I just get through tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lila-mccann/tomorrow-i-ll-get-over-you-if-i-just-get-through-tonight/) [Lila McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lila-mccann/) > [“There is so little joy in any life, I will take this time with you until I must go." He smoothed a lock of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-samuel/there-is-so-little-joy-in-any-life-i-will-take-this-time-with-you/) [Barbara Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-samuel/) > [“I have the power," I say with a cheer, To shape how I feel, right now and right here. It's not what has happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-s-mussings/i-have-the-power-i-say-with-a-cheer-to-shape-how-i-feel-right-now-and/) [Emma's Mussings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-s-mussings/) > [Smile, laugh, spread a little joy in someone's life, it surely come back on you in a good way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellie-palmer/smile-laugh-spread-a-little-joy-in-someone-s-life-it-surely-come-back/) [Shellie Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellie-palmer/) > [Little hands and little feet, Little toothless grins so sweet, Little eyes that shine so bright,Little arms to hug you tight - Everythings little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/little-hands-and-little-feet-little-toothless-grins-so-sweet-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy down here today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/our-hope-in-christ-for-the-future-is-the-mainspring-and-the-mainstay/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart and home with joy today and throughout the coming year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-the-timeless-message-of-christmas-fill-your-heart-and-home-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The drum of the realization of the promise is beating, we are sweeping the road to the sky. Your joy is here today, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-drum-of-the-realization-of-the-promise-is-beating-we-are-sweeping/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Worry about tomorrow steals the joy from today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cameron/worry-about-tomorrow-steals-the-joy-from-today/) [Barbara Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cameron/) > [There's nothing better than opening a block of chocolate and sitting back and that little joy it brings to your face and to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriano-zumbo/there-s-nothing-better-than-opening-a-block-of-chocolate-and-sitting/) [Adriano Zumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriano-zumbo/) > [I Love the joy today, seeing blue sky's and empty roads and good music all day long...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncomfortablesoul/i-love-the-joy-today-seeing-blue-sky-s-and-empty-roads-and-good-music/) [Uncomfortablesoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncomfortablesoul/) > [“This book will bring little joy to the reader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annemarie-schwarzenbach/this-book-will-bring-little-joy-to-the-reader/) [Annemarie Schwarzenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annemarie-schwarzenbach/) > [People who have little, but much joy, inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-cameron/people-who-have-little-but-much-joy-inspire-me/) [Candace Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-cameron/) > [Today's circumstances are out of your control but you CAN control your response. Don't let a negative outlook kill your joy today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/today-s-circumstances-are-out-of-your-control-but-you-can-control/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) ## More by Lloyd Alexander > [“There are heroes and heroes. I don't deny he's acted bravely on occasion. He's fought beside Lord Gwydion and been proud of himself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/there-are-heroes-and-heroes-i-don-t-deny-he-s-acted-bravely-on/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“I shall not lie!" Eilonwy cried, "not for this traitor and deserter." "It is not for him," Taran said quietly, "but for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/i-shall-not-lie-eilonwy-cried-not-for-this-traitor-and-deserter-it-is/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“He learned that the lives of men are short and filled with pain, yet each one a priceless treasure, whether it be that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/he-learned-that-the-lives-of-men-are-short-and-filled-with-pain-yet/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [King Constantine IX of Regia had been killed three times and was bored with it. He wanted a bath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/king-constantine-ix-of-regia-had-been-killed-three-times-and-was/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“There is an exuberance in good fantasy quite unlike the most exalted moments of realistic fiction. Both forms have similar goals; but realism walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/there-is-an-exuberance-in-good-fantasy-quite-unlike-the-most-exalted/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Stale water is a poor drink. Stale skill is worse. And the man who walks in his own footsteps only ends where he began.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/stale-water-is-a-poor-drink-stale-skill-is-worse-and-the-man-who/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Forgive me…I called you an idiot. I spoke too hastily. You are not. Had I given it more thought, I would have called you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/forgive-me-i-called-you-an-idiot-i-spoke-too-hastily-you-are-not-had/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“On the level of high art, in their common efforts to express human truths, relationships, attitudes, and personal visions, children's literature and adult literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/on-the-level-of-high-art-in-their-common-efforts-to-express-human/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [What seems to be love beyond any question is usually a simple case of indigestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/what-seems-to-be-love-beyond-any-question-is-usually-a-simple-case-of/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [The art is more important than the artist. The work is more important than the person who does it. You must be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/the-art-is-more-important-than-the-artist-the-work-is-more-important/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“Once," he added, "you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/once-he-added-you-told-me-that-the-seeking-counts-more-than-the/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [I came to fantasy fairly late. For some ten years, I had been happily writing fiction and non-fiction for adults. But I always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/i-came-to-fantasy-fairly-late-for-some-ten-years-i-had-been-happily/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Talented people are finding that writing for young people is as demanding of high quality as writing for adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/talented-people-are-finding-that-writing-for-young-people-is-as/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“In some cases we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/in-some-cases-we-learn-more-by-looking-for-the-answer-to-a-question/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [A crown is more discomfort than adornment. If you have learned that, you have already learned much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/a-crown-is-more-discomfort-than-adornment-if-you-have-learned-that/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) [Explore all 220 Lloyd Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) ## More Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little joy today.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lloyd Alexander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little-joy-today/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Joy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little-joy-today/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/lloyd-alexander-1645_joy_if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little_801721.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I fret over tomorrow, I'll have little joy today.” — Lloyd Alexander", "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": "Lloyd Alexander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I fret over tomorrow, I'll...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little-joy-today/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/if-i-fret-over-tomorrow-i-ll-have-little-joy-today/#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 } } ] } ```