--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We always project into the future or…" description: "\"We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.\" — Marina Abramovic" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg" --- # We always project into the future or reflect in the past… ![“We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.” quote by Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg) > “We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.” [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We spend most of our mental energy either anticipating what will happen or replaying what has happened, neglecting the present moment. **In simple terms:** We focus on future or past, missing now. Key Takeaway Cultivate present‑moment awareness. Themes mindfulness presence temporal perception Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - daily routines - stress management - creative work - relationships Key Concepts consciousness psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How often do you notice your mind drifting? - What practices help you stay in the now? A Different Perspective Present focus can be disrupted by anxiety or habit; requires deliberate practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“We change with time by how we view the future and reflect the past”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-cornelisz/we-change-with-time-by-how-we-view-the-future-and-reflect-the-past/) [Ronnie Cornelisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-cornelisz/) > [I am at the stage of my life everyone dreads - that of filling my days with the past, because there is little future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-riley/i-am-at-the-stage-of-my-life-everyone-dreads-that-of-filling-my-days/) [Lucinda Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-riley/) > [You can't continue to reflect on the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-nell-tipton/you-can-t-continue-to-reflect-on-the-past/) [Ashley Nell Tipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-nell-tipton/) > [There are more people than you think who want to have a challenging experience, in which they are obliged to reflect about the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-more-people-than-you-think-who-want-to-have-a-challenging/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [I believe the future will reflect different body types, ethnicities, cultures and sexual orientations. I've been working with a lot of young artists who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/i-believe-the-future-will-reflect-different-body-types-ethnicities/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [I think my view is that whenever you project into the future you're never likely to be accurate in the details, or the paraphernalia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-think-my-view-is-that-whenever-you-project-into-the-future-you-re-2/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I think my view is that whenever you project into the future you're never likely to be accurate in the details, or the paraphernalia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-think-my-view-is-that-whenever-you-project-into-the-future-you-re/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The future is needed as a space to project your desires. To project, future is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-future-is-needed-as-a-space-to-project-your-desires-to-project/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“By the way, I love your precept. I agree, sometimes it’s good to start over. A fresh start gives us the chance to reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/by-the-way-i-love-your-precept-i-agree-sometimes-it-s-good-to-start/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [I am alone. I am here. No one is watching me. In these hours of silence that I cherish, I talk to myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-betancourt/i-am-alone-i-am-here-no-one-is-watching-me-in-these-hours-of-silence/) [Ingrid Betancourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-betancourt/) > [“Ten times a day I am compelled to reflect on my past life ... and I can never justify to myself the spending of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/ten-times-a-day-i-am-compelled-to-reflect-on-my-past-life-and-i-can/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A man really living alone (alone mentally as well as physically) would have little or no occasion to reflect upon his past experience to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-man-really-living-alone-alone-mentally-as-well-as-physically-would/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“This is the epiphany, the gift, from those who have crossed over to the realm beyond the veil: We don’t have to carry around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colette-baron-reid/this-is-the-epiphany-the-gift-from-those-who-have-crossed-over-to-the/) [Colette Baron Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colette-baron-reid/) > [When we reflect on our past sentiments and affections, our thought is a faithful mirror, and copies its objects truly; but the colours which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-we-reflect-on-our-past-sentiments-and-affections-our-thought-is/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [I was trying to hold up a mirror to this country, to reflect the past years or so, and the varying degrees in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-sayrafiezadeh/i-was-trying-to-hold-up-a-mirror-to-this-country-to-reflect-the-past/) [Said Sayrafiezadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-sayrafiezadeh/) ## More by Marina Abramovic > [I really think there's no difference between an art piece made by a man and one made by a woman. Is it a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-really-think-there-s-no-difference-between-an-art-piece-made-by-a/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I hate studios. A studio is a black hole. I never use a studio to work. It's very artificial to go to a studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-hate-studios-a-studio-is-a-black-hole-i-never-use-a-studio-to-work/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [In my work I have complete control, but about my life, I don't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/in-my-work-i-have-complete-control-but-about-my-life-i-don-t-want-to/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [Performance is there, and if you are not there in that moment it happened, it just stays in the memory. It's so immaterial and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/performance-is-there-and-if-you-are-not-there-in-that-moment-it/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I can explain my work to the cleaner or the president; it's all the same to me. I am very communist in this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-can-explain-my-work-to-the-cleaner-or-the-president-it-s-all-the/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [My memoirs are full of humor, I had to change jokes because it was a little too dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/my-memoirs-are-full-of-humor-i-had-to-change-jokes-because-it-was-a/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [To be in a magazine when you're 20 is okay, but when you do it when you're 65, it's much more fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/to-be-in-a-magazine-when-you-re-20-is-okay-but-when-you-do-it-when/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [Most of the time, the artists are not supposed to wear the fashion. It is always seen as a vanity. But I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/most-of-the-time-the-artists-are-not-supposed-to-wear-the-fashion-it/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [You know, art is very emotional business. But mostly it becomes not emotional, the fabric of commodity. It becomes business. It becomes so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/you-know-art-is-very-emotional-business-but-mostly-it-becomes-not/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I didn't give any instruction to the video, because it was a new medium. I didn't know what to tell him; it was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-didn-t-give-any-instruction-to-the-video-because-it-was-a-new/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [If I'm not nervous, I'm nervous. You never know how people are going to receive the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/if-i-m-not-nervous-i-m-nervous-you-never-know-how-people-are-going-to/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [Today, our attention is less than the television advertisement. We're looking at six or seven problems constantly. We're living in the disturbed societies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/today-our-attention-is-less-than-the-television-advertisement-we-re/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [Art comes from life, not from the studio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/art-comes-from-life-not-from-the-studio/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [All the aggressive actions I do to myself I would never dream of doing in my own life - I am not this kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/all-the-aggressive-actions-i-do-to-myself-i-would-never-dream-of/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [It's so easy to do things you like. But then, the thing is, when you're afraid of something, face it; go for it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/it-s-so-easy-to-do-things-you-like-but-then-the-thing-is-when-you-re/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) [Explore all 234 Marina Abramovic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marina Abramovic" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-always-project-into-the-future-or-reflect-in-the-past-but-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-always-project-into-the-future-or-reflect-in-the-past-but-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/marina-abramovic-1502_always_we-always-project-into-the-future-or-ref_484897.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.” — Marina Abramovic", "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": "Marina Abramovic", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We always project into the future...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-always-project-into-the-future-or-reflect-in-the-past-but-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-always-project-into-the-future-or-reflect-in-the-past-but-we-are/#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 } } ] } ```