--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Live in the present. The past is gone…" description: "\"Live in the present. The past is gone; the future is unknown -- but the present is real, and your opportunities are now. You must see these opportuniti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/maxwell-maltz-3463_being-real_live-in-the-present-the-past-is-gone-the_1646754.png" --- # Live in the present. The past is gone; the future is… ![“Live in the present. The past is gone; the future is unknown -- but the present is real, and your opportunities are now. You must see these opportunities; they must be real for you. The catch is that they can't seem real if your mind is buried in past failures, if you keep reliving old mistakes…” quote by Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/maxwell-maltz-3463_being-real_live-in-the-present-the-past-is-gone-the_1646754.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/maxwell-maltz-3463_being-real_live-in-the-present-the-past-is-gone-the_1646754.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/maxwell-maltz-3463_being-real_live-in-the-present-the-past-is-gone-the_1646754.png) > “Live in the present. The past is gone; the future is unknown -- but the present is real, and your opportunities are now. You must see these opportunities; they must be real for you. The catch is that they can't seem real if your mind is buried in past failures, if you keep reliving old mistakes, old guilts, old tragedies. Fight your way above the many inevitable Traumatizations of your ego, escape damnation by the past, and look to the opportunities of the present. I don't mean some vague moment in the present -- next week or next month, perhaps. I mean today, this minute.” [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## 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 urges focusing on the present moment to seize real opportunities, warning that past regrets and future anxieties block perception of present possibilities. **In simple terms:** Live now to notice real chances. Key Takeaway Act on present opportunities. Themes mindfulness opportunity ego Mood motivational urgent Type self-help inspirational When to use this quote - daily planning - mindfulness practice - goal setting Key Concepts present awareness psychological barriers Questions to Reflect On - What present opportunity are you ignoring? - How can you release past regrets? A Different Perspective Past trauma can still dominate thoughts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) [Damnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damnation/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-failures/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [Live in the present. The past is gone; the future is unknown - but the present is real, and your opportunities are now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/live-in-the-present-the-past-is-gone-the-future-is-unknown-but-the/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [“Those who decide to live in the Present, must leave their past behind. Once past has been left behind, future also disappears! What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-m-wanderer/those-who-decide-to-live-in-the-present-must-leave-their-past-behind-2/) [Frank M. Wanderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-m-wanderer/) > [“live in the present not the past , because is not worth going to the same path of the ugliness past”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xena-viera/live-in-the-present-not-the-past-because-is-not-worth-going-to-the/) Xena Viera > [Live in the present, the past has its lessons from which you've learned but it's long gone, so leave it behind you and focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/live-in-the-present-the-past-has-its-lessons-from-which-you-ve/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Sometimes, I think one should only live in the present. The past is only a heavy burden to carry with you. And yet… it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/sometimes-i-think-one-should-only-live-in-the-present-the-past-is/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [I'm ready to live in the present - not the past and not in the future - because in the present is where there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominick-cruz/i-m-ready-to-live-in-the-present-not-the-past-and-not-in-the-future/) [Dominick Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominick-cruz/) > [“When you live in the present, the past is forgotten & the future takes care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/when-you-live-in-the-present-the-past-is-forgotten-the-future-takes/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [In present we left past,In future we regret past, In past we live present, past, present and future always interconnected with each other as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran/in-present-we-left-past-in-future-we-regret-past-in-past-we-live/) [Kiran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran/) > [I have always wanted to live in the present and never the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/i-have-always-wanted-to-live-in-the-present-and-never-the-past/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [“Live for the present, as the past has gone and the future as yet to arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladytiara/live-for-the-present-as-the-past-has-gone-and-the-future-as-yet-to/) LadyTiara > [How can I plan for the future and live the present, if I can't get over my past(you).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-can-i-plan-for-the-future-and-live-the-present-if-i-can-t-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond ones reach, until it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/one-has-to-live-in-the-present-whatever-is-past-is-gone-beyond-recall-2/) Unkown > [A man or a woman should live in the present not in the past because if he did ,he doesn't prosper in life !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-john-ii-n-caballero/a-man-or-a-woman-should-live-in-the-present-not-in-the-past-because/) [Paul John II N Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-john-ii-n-caballero/) > [“You can never go back to a specific moment. That's why it's important to live in the present and not the past. Don't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-coussons/you-can-never-go-back-to-a-specific-moment-that-s-why-it-s-important/) Emily Coussons > [Ignore past failures and forge ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/ignore-past-failures-and-forge-ahead/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More by Maxwell Maltz > [This Creative Mechanism within you is impersonal. It will work automatically and impersonally to achieve goals of success and happiness, or unhappiness and failure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/this-creative-mechanism-within-you-is-impersonal-it-will-work/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your automatic guidance system cannot guide you when you're stalled, “standing still”.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-automatic-guidance-system-cannot-guide-you-when-you-re-stalled/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [You can do only one thing at a time. I simply tackle one problem and concentrate all efforts on what I am doing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/you-can-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-simply-tackle-one-problem-and/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Within you, whoever you may be, regardless of how big a failure you may think yourself to be, is the ability and the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/within-you-whoever-you-may-be-regardless-of-how-big-a-failure-you-may/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Functionally, a man is somewhat like a bicycle. A bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it's moving forward towards something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/functionally-a-man-is-somewhat-like-a-bicycle-a-bicycle-maintains-its/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Faith, courage, optimism, looking forward, bring us new life and more life. Futility, frustration, living in the past are not only characteristic of 'old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/faith-courage-optimism-looking-forward-bring-us-new-life-and-more/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-make-friends-with-yourself-you-will-never-be-alone/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [People who say that life is not worthwhile are really saying that they themselves have no personal goals which are worthwhile. Prescription: Get yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/people-who-say-that-life-is-not-worthwhile-are-really-saying-that/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person's feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/take-the-trouble-to-stop-and-think-of-the-other-person-s-feelings-his/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your present negative beliefs were formed by thought PLUS feelings. Generate enough emotion, or deep feeling and your new thoughts and ideas will cancel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-present-negative-beliefs-were-formed-by-thought-plus-feelings/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [The greatest miracle you can hope for is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/the-greatest-miracle-you-can-hope-for-is-self-acceptance/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Get yourself a goal worth working for. Better still, get yourself a project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/get-yourself-a-goal-worth-working-for-better-still-get-yourself-a/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [For imagination sets the goal picture which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of will, as is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/for-imagination-sets-the-goal-picture-which-our-automatic-mechanism/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you wait until circumstances justify your thinking pleasant thoughts, you are likely to wait forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-wait-until-circumstances-justify-your-thinking-pleasant/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) [Explore all 130 Maxwell Maltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More Being real quotes > [Don't be in such a hurry to condemn a person because she doesn't do what you do, or think as you think or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcom-x/don-t-be-in-such-a-hurry-to-condemn-a-person-because-she-doesn-t-do/) [Malcom X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcom-x/) > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Going through unknown people's profiles and judging them by their pictures is totally normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pradeep-chandra/going-through-unknown-people-s-profiles-and-judging-them-by-their/) Pradeep Chandra > [When you are important to another person, they will always find a way to make time for you - no excuses, no lies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-important-to-another-person-they-will-always-find-a-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you speak the truth watch the fuck niggas start hating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-speak-the-truth-watch-the-fuck-niggas-start-hating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think about everyone in my life that was harsh with me or who gave me tough love and told me things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/i-think-about-everyone-in-my-life-that-was-harsh-with-me-or-who-gave/) [Charlamagne Tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [Laugh at every mistakes and realize that no one is perfect. We are human. All of us are imperfect, so there's no point judging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laugh-at-every-mistakes-and-realize-that-no-one-is-perfect-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've noticed a change huh ? She doesn't text you as often . She never calls you anymore . When she does text you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delaney-ridnour/you-ve-noticed-a-change-huh-she-doesn-t-text-you-as-often-she-never/) [Delaney Ridnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delaney-ridnour/) > [I wish that one day you would finally realize that the person that is willing to love you forever is the person you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khat-leen/i-wish-that-one-day-you-would-finally-realize-that-the-person-that-is/) [Khat Leen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khat-leen/) > [..If you love her/him then why give up, nobody said love was easy and nobody said love was hard... a relationship is what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tevin-bostic/if-you-love-her-him-then-why-give-up-nobody-said-love-was-easy-and/) [TEVIN BOSTIC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tevin-bostic/) > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-learned-a-tremendous-amount-about-what-was-important-to-me-as-a/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [Im loving you not because you're giving me what I need, Instead I'm loving you because you're giving me this feeling I never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/im-loving-you-not-because-you-re-giving-me-what-i-need-instead-i-m/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 1,607 Being real quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Live in the present. 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