--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One problem with gazing too frequently…" description: "\"One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.\" — Michael Cibenko" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg" --- # One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is… ![“One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.” quote by Michael Cibenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg) > “One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.” [Michael Cibenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cibenko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obsessing over the past can cause you to miss future opportunities. **In simple terms:** Past obsession blocks future. Key Takeaway Focus forward, not backward. Themes time reflection future mindset growth Mood thoughtful motivated Type Gazing:0 Time:1 Past Turn:0 Turn Future:0 Gazing Frequently:0 Problem Gazing:0 When to use this quote - career planning - personal goals - creative projects Key Concepts past focus future planning Questions to Reflect On - How often do you revisit the past? - What future goal are you neglecting? A Different Perspective Balancing reflection and forward motion is key. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazing/) [Gazing Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazing-frequently-1430998/) [Past Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-turn-454071/) [Problem Gazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-gazing-2323904/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turn Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-future-1430997/) ## Related quotes > [With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson One problem with gazing too frequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/with-the-past-i-have-nothing-to-do-nor-with-the-future-i-live-now/) [Michael Cibenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cibenko/) > [To wind the mighty secrets of the past, And turn the key of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kirke-white/to-wind-the-mighty-secrets-of-the-past-and-turn-the-key-of-time/) [Henry Kirke White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kirke-white/) > [When the uncertain future becomes the past, the past in turn becomes uncertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/when-the-uncertain-future-becomes-the-past-the-past-in-turn-becomes/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [Move on it's just a chapter in the past turn the page but don't close the book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/move-on-it-s-just-a-chapter-in-the-past-turn-the-page-but-don-t-close/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [History can't be left to fend for itself. For when it comes to history and beliefs and values, we turn our future on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/history-can-t-be-left-to-fend-for-itself-for-when-it-comes-to-history/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [Let us turn to the future and not deal with the past,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-dacic/let-us-turn-to-the-future-and-not-deal-with-the-past/) [Ivica Dacic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-dacic/) > [“From the past they turn to the future. Ah! at the close of the last century, the future seemed a thing tangible,—it was woven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton/from-the-past-they-turn-to-the-future-ah-at-the-close-of-the-last/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton/) > [“This is how fast your life can turn around. How the future you have tomorrow won't be the same future you had yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-how-fast-your-life-can-turn-around-how-the-future-you-have/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When the peacock has presented his back, the spectator will usually begin to walk around him to get a front view; but the peacock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/when-the-peacock-has-presented-his-back-the-spectator-will-usually/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Watch it, minx," he warned with a lift of his brow. "If you intend to taunt me for every foolish statement I've made in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/watch-it-minx-he-warned-with-a-lift-of-his-brow-if-you-intend-to/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [Lo! while we are gazing, in swifter haste Stream down the snows, till the air is white, As, myriads by myriads madly chased, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/lo-while-we-are-gazing-in-swifter-haste-stream-down-the-snows-till/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [I love these pet names," she said, gazing soulfully up into his eyes, "Nitwit. Sap skull. Termagant. How they make my heart flutter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/i-love-these-pet-names-she-said-gazing-soulfully-up-into-his-eyes/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [ \[S\]he stood for some moments gazing at the sisters, with affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/s-he-stood-for-some-moments-gazing-at-the-sisters-with-affection/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## More by Michael Cibenko > [With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson One problem with gazing too frequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/with-the-past-i-have-nothing-to-do-nor-with-the-future-i-live-now/) [Michael Cibenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cibenko/) [Explore all 2 Michael Cibenko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cibenko/) ## More Gazing quotes > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [ \[S\]he stood for some moments gazing at the sisters, with affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/s-he-stood-for-some-moments-gazing-at-the-sisters-with-affection/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I love these pet names," she said, gazing soulfully up into his eyes, "Nitwit. Sap skull. Termagant. How they make my heart flutter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/i-love-these-pet-names-she-said-gazing-soulfully-up-into-his-eyes/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [Lo! while we are gazing, in swifter haste Stream down the snows, till the air is white, As, myriads by myriads madly chased, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/lo-while-we-are-gazing-in-swifter-haste-stream-down-the-snows-till/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Watch it, minx," he warned with a lift of his brow. "If you intend to taunt me for every foolish statement I've made in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/watch-it-minx-he-warned-with-a-lift-of-his-brow-if-you-intend-to/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [When the peacock has presented his back, the spectator will usually begin to walk around him to get a front view; but the peacock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/when-the-peacock-has-presented-his-back-the-spectator-will-usually/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [I sit at my window gazing The world passes by, nods to me And is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-sit-at-my-window-gazing-the-world-passes-by-nods-to-me-and-is-gone/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Truth be told, the inward gaze is something she's not too fond of. But there are secrets that lurk in the mind, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-bell/truth-be-told-the-inward-gaze-is-something-she-s-not-too-fond-of-but/) [Alden Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-bell/) > [His hands slipped from his throat, and he crashed to the ground like a tree falling. "Oh, dear," said Pangborn, gazing at the fallen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/his-hands-slipped-from-his-throat-and-he-crashed-to-the-ground-like-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Constantly practice the habit of inwardly gazing upon God. You know that something inside your heart sees God. Even when you are compelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/constantly-practice-the-habit-of-inwardly-gazing-upon-god-you-know/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“There I am in my younger days, star gazing Painting picture perfect maps Of how my life and love would be Not counting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-girls/there-i-am-in-my-younger-days-star-gazing-painting-picture-perfect/) [Indigo Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-girls/) > [“I thought it was time I introduced you to one of my favorite things—star gazing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-grace/i-thought-it-was-time-i-introduced-you-to-one-of-my-favorite-things/) [Alexa Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-grace/) > [“Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/love-does-not-consist-of-gazing-at-each-other-but-in-looking-outward/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [It made her think of Laika, the dog. The man-made satellite streaking soundlessly across the blackness of outer space. The dark, lustrous eyes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-made-her-think-of-laika-the-dog-the-man-made-satellite-streaking/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) [Browse all 250 Gazing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Cibenko" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-into-the-past-is-that-we-may/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gazing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-into-the-past-is-that-we-may/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/michael-cibenko-89170_gazing_one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-i_229257.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run…” — Michael Cibenko", "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": "Michael Cibenko", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cibenko/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One problem with gazing too frequently...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-into-the-past-is-that-we-may/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-into-the-past-is-that-we-may/#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 } } ] } ```