--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There exists only the present instant…" description: "\"There exists only the present instant ... There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now ...\" — Meister Eckhart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_there-exists-only-the-present-instant-th_1443873.jpg" --- # There exists only the present instant ... There is no… ![“There exists only the present instant ... There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now ...” quote by Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_there-exists-only-the-present-instant-th_1443873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_there-exists-only-the-present-instant-th_1443873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/meister-eckhart-1044_inspirational_there-exists-only-the-present-instant-th_1443873.jpg) > “There exists only the present instant ... There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now ...” [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only the present moment truly exists; past and future are mental constructs. **In simple terms:** Only now is real. Key Takeaway Live fully in the present. Themes mindfulness presence spirituality Mood calm contemplative Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - stress management - creative work - decision making Key Concepts Mysticism temporal philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance presence with future goals? - What practices keep you anchored in the now? A Different Perspective Focusing only on now may neglect planning for future. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exists Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-present-2071841/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant/) [Instant Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant-yesterday-5173898/) [Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present/) [Present Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-instant-3596257/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [There exists only the present instant... a Now which always and without end is itself new. There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/there-exists-only-the-present-instant-a-now-which-always-and-without/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“The present is not an instant shared by all space, but an event, i.e. an instant at a place in space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-alba-juez/the-present-is-not-an-instant-shared-by-all-space-but-an-event-i-e-an/) [Felix Alba-Juez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-alba-juez/) > [All the happiness and fulfillment that humans yearn for exists in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/all-the-happiness-and-fulfillment-that-humans-yearn-for-exists-in-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [There is one undeniable truth about our body: it only exists in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kuypers/there-is-one-undeniable-truth-about-our-body-it-only-exists-in-the/) [John Kuypers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kuypers/) > [Creativity exists in the present moment. You can't find it anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/creativity-exists-in-the-present-moment-you-can-t-find-it-anywhere/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [The real nature of the present revealed itself: it was what exists, all that was not present did not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-real-nature-of-the-present-revealed-itself-it-was-what-exists-all/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts go so fast. Fashion is instant language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/what-you-wear-is-how-you-present-yourself-to-the-world-especially/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [I -- I alone know how to mourn for him as he deserves.' But while we were still shaking hands, such a look of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-i-alone-know-how-to-mourn-for-him-as-he-deserves-but-while-we-were/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [I personally believe this: We have only today; yesterday's gone and tomorrow is uncertain. That's why they call it the present. And sobriety really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-frehley/i-personally-believe-this-we-have-only-today-yesterday-s-gone-and/) [Ace Frehley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-frehley/) > [Yesturday is history. tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. that's why it's called the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yesturday-is-history-tomorrow-is-a-mystery-today-is-a-gift-that-s-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that's why we call it the present. If I am not for myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/yesterday-is-history-tomorrow-is-a-mystery-today-is-a-gift-that-s-why/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, thats why we call it present ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karal/yesterday-is-history-tomorrow-is-a-mystery-and-today-is-a-gift-thats/) [Karal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karal/) > [Yesterday is history,Tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift, That is why we call it \*The Present\*.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/yesterday-is-history-tomorrow-is-a-mystery-but-today-is-a-gift-that/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [Yesterday is history.Tommorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. Thats why its called present!!! ;-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mckenzie/yesterday-is-history-tommorrow-is-a-mystery-today-is-a-gift-thats-why/) [Mckenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mckenzie/) > [“Nostalgia" How often we use this word reminiscing about the past - our childhood, school days, college days.. We feel nostalgic, we dwell in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/nostalgia-how-often-we-use-this-word-reminiscing-about-the-past-our/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) ## More by Meister Eckhart > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Action and becoming are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/action-and-becoming-are-one/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Whoever wants to receive the body of our Lord does not need to scrutinize what they are feeling at the time or how great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/whoever-wants-to-receive-the-body-of-our-lord-does-not-need-to/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Nothing will be able to hinder us, if we desire and seek God alone, and take pleasure in nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/nothing-will-be-able-to-hinder-us-if-we-desire-and-seek-god-alone-and/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [ \[W\]e must come into a transformed knowing, an unknowing which comes not from ignorance but from knowledge. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/w-e-must-come-into-a-transformed-knowing-an-unknowing-which-comes-not/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [I need to be silent for awhile, worlds are forming in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-need-to-be-silent-for-awhile-worlds-are-forming-in-my-heart/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [One person who has mastered life is better than a thousand persons who have mastered only the contents of books, but no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/one-person-who-has-mastered-life-is-better-than-a-thousand-persons/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“But where is this true possession of God, whereby we really possess him, to be found? This real possession of God is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/but-where-is-this-true-possession-of-god-whereby-we-really-possess/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The most powerful prayer, one well-nigh omnipotent, and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-most-powerful-prayer-one-well-nigh-omnipotent-and-the-worthiest/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-we-seek-god-for-our-own-good-and-profit-we-are-not-seeking-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Our bodily food is changed into us, but our spiritual food changes us into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/our-bodily-food-is-changed-into-us-but-our-spiritual-food-changes-us/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“Concerning this desert, Jeremiah writes: ‘I will lead my beloved into the wilderness and will speak to her in her heart’ (Hosea 2:14) .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/concerning-this-desert-jeremiah-writes-i-will-lead-my-beloved-into/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If the seal is pressed completely through the wax so that no wax remains without being impressed by the seal, then it becomes indistinguishably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-the-seal-is-pressed-completely-through-the-wax-so-that-no-wax/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Be ready at all times for the gifts of God, and always for new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/be-ready-at-all-times-for-the-gifts-of-god-and-always-for-new-ones/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) [Explore all 301 Meister Eckhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There exists only the present instant ... 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