--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think life is far too short to…" description: "\"I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.\" — Lou Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/lou-reed-1654_future_i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concent_42632.png" --- # I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past… ![“I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.” quote by Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/lou-reed-1654_future_i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concent_42632.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/lou-reed-1654_future_i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concent_42632.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/lou-reed-1654_future_i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concent_42632.png) > “I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.” [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's brevity makes dwelling on past events wasteful; focusing forward yields purpose. **In simple terms:** Prioritize future over past. Key Takeaway Live forward‑focused. Themes impermanence growth mindset forward thinking self‑improvement time awareness Mood determined hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - relationship building - recovering from setbacks - setting long‑term goals Key Concepts temporal perspective personal agency Practical Applications - goal setting - strategic life design Questions to Reflect On - What can you start today that aligns with your future vision? - How does past regret limit your present actions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-short/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Your past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-past/) ## Related quotes > [Why concentrate on your past when you're moving towards future?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania/why-concentrate-on-your-past-when-you-re-moving-towards-future/) [Melania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania/) > [My view is that life is too short. I'm not being melodramatic or anything, but when your mother dies in your arms - just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saffron-aldridge/my-view-is-that-life-is-too-short-i-m-not-being-melodramatic-or/) [Saffron Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saffron-aldridge/) > [Just think life's too short to get hung up on maybes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-meredith-walters/just-think-life-s-too-short-to-get-hung-up-on-maybes/) [A. Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [I think life is too short not to be doing something which you really believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/i-think-life-is-too-short-not-to-be-doing-something-which-you-really/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [Life is too short not to do a little practical joking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-allen/life-is-too-short-not-to-do-a-little-practical-joking/) [Krista Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-allen/) > [Life is too short to harbor any hostilities towards anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peabo-bryson/life-is-too-short-to-harbor-any-hostilities-towards-anybody/) [Peabo Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peabo-bryson/) > [Begin doing what you want to do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-beynon-lyons-ray/begin-doing-what-you-want-to-do-now/) [Marie Beynon Lyons Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-beynon-lyons-ray/) > [Life is too short to do anything that's not challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mayer/life-is-too-short-to-do-anything-that-s-not-challenging/) [Michael Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mayer/) > [Let's not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember "Life is too short to be little".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/let-s-not-allow-ourselves-to-be-upset-by-small-things-we-should/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Look. We both know life is short, Macy. Too short to waste a single second with anyone who doesn't appreciate and value you." You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/look-we-both-know-life-is-short-macy-too-short-to-waste-a-single/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Life is too short to waste. Dreams are fulfilled only through action, not through endless planning to take action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/life-is-too-short-to-waste-dreams-are-fulfilled-only-through-action/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [The only things you regret are the things you didn't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-curtiz/the-only-things-you-regret-are-the-things-you-didn-t-do/) Michael Curtiz > [What I've learned is that life is too short and movies are too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-life-is-too-short-and-movies-are-too-long/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I still find each day too short..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-still-find-each-day-too-short/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/life-is-too-short-to-wake-up-with-regrets-so-love-the-people-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More by Lou Reed > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night is minimalistic and that's what makes it so forceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-is-minimalistic-and-that-s-what-makes-it-so-forceful/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The only thing constantly changing is change, and change is always changing for the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-only-thing-constantly-changing-is-change-and-change-is-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The first generation of CDs sounded terrible. Any chance to remaster would make the music sound better than what was already out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-first-generation-of-cds-sounded-terrible-any-chance-to-remaster/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night has that magic and it has the raw energy that grabs you by the throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-has-that-magic-and-it-has-the-raw-energy-that-grabs-you/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Underachievers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose except your fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/underachievers-of-the-world-unite-you-have-nothing-to-lose-except/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“There's a bit of magic in everything And then some loss to even things out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/there-s-a-bit-of-magic-in-everything-and-then-some-loss-to-even/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [You've gotta blow the roof off of your heart and let the universe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-ve-gotta-blow-the-roof-off-of-your-heart-and-let-the-universe-in/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Sometimes, you've got to be in a place. You're just another guy. You can just blend in. I live out in the wilds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-be-in-a-place-you-re-just-another-guy-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [How could you even dream or think something of someone who is as uncommercial as I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/how-could-you-even-dream-or-think-something-of-someone-who-is-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [All the people have gone to war leaving no interrogator to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/all-the-people-have-gone-to-war-leaving-no-interrogator-to-mind/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I always thought martial arts was the most modern choreography we could have right now, and I always wanted to put it to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-always-thought-martial-arts-was-the-most-modern-choreography-we/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [It's fun to be in a small club and to be able to look somebody right in the eye and watch them just freak.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/it-s-fun-to-be-in-a-small-club-and-to-be-able-to-look-somebody-right/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) [Explore all 219 Lou Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## 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": "I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. 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