--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For better or worse, our future will be…" description: "\"For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.\" — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg" --- # For better or worse, our future will be determined in… ![“For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.” quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg) > “For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.” [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our destiny hinges on the visions we imagine and the effort we invest to actualize them. **In simple terms:** Dreams shape future outcomes. Key Takeaway Vision plus action drives progress. Themes aspiration agency future motivation creativity Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - entrepreneurial ventures - artistic projects - social movements Key Concepts goal-setting psychology of flow personal development Practical Applications - strategic goal setting - innovation workshops Questions to Reflect On - What dreams are you willing to pursue? - How can you bridge imagination and execution? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Our dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-dreams/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [For better or worse, our future is now closely tied to human creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-is-now-closely-tied-to-human-creativity/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Your future is not determined by the conditions around you. It is determined by your faith, your choices, and your efforts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-v-johnson/your-future-is-not-determined-by-the-conditions-around-you-it-is/) [Paul V. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-v-johnson/) > [Don't quit. You have come a long way chasing your dreams, struggle hard with the greatest enthusiasm, be patient, hard work pays off. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sooraj-singh/don-t-quit-you-have-come-a-long-way-chasing-your-dreams-struggle-hard/) Sooraj Singh > [Women dream till they have no longer the strength to dream; those dreams against which they so struggle, so honestly, vigorously, and conscientiously, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/women-dream-till-they-have-no-longer-the-strength-to-dream-those/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“the fear of what might happen in the future is almost always worse than the future that eventually arrives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/the-fear-of-what-might-happen-in-the-future-is-almost-always-worse/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-people-find-it-so-hard-to-be-happy-is-that-they-always-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reason we find it so difficult to be happy: we see the past better that it was,the present worse than it is,and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/the-reason-we-find-it-so-difficult-to-be-happy-we-see-the-past-better/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [“A person of large dreams does not allow other people’s opinion to damper his or her zestfulness. Overcoming fear of making an irreversible, lifetime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-person-of-large-dreams-does-not-allow-other-people-s-opinion-to/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [I tell people I'm too stupid to know what's impossible. I have ridiculously large dreams, and half the time they come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/i-tell-people-i-m-too-stupid-to-know-what-s-impossible-i-have/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I sometimes think my head is so large because it is so full of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-merrick/i-sometimes-think-my-head-is-so-large-because-it-is-so-full-of-dreams/) Joseph Merrick > [“Make your reality large enough for your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-vongsaravanh/make-your-reality-large-enough-for-your-dreams/) Elizabeth Vongsaravanh > [All those large dreams by which men long live well Are magic-lanterned on the smoke of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-empson/all-those-large-dreams-by-which-men-long-live-well-are-magic/) [William Empson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-empson/) > [Conventional beauty & size isn't found in every gene. So why not be large with large dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-clark/conventional-beauty-size-isn-t-found-in-every-gene-so-why-not-be/) [Denise Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-clark/) > [As a child our dreams got scattered all about and all our future prospects got scattered to so many places, and we spend our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/as-a-child-our-dreams-got-scattered-all-about-and-all-our-future/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/let-us-make-our-future-now-and-let-us-make-our-dreams-tomorrow-s/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) ## More by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi > [“Entropy is the normal state of consciousness—a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable. To avoid this condition, people are naturally eager to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/entropy-is-the-normal-state-of-consciousness-a-condition-that-is/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [People without an internalized symbolic system can all too easily become captives of the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/people-without-an-internalized-symbolic-system-can-all-too-easily/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Through learning we grow, becoming more than we were before, and in that sense learning is unselfish, because it results in the transformation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/through-learning-we-grow-becoming-more-than-we-were-before-and-in/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Unfortunately, many people find the only challenges they can respond to are violence, gambling, random sex, or drugs. Some of these experiences can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/unfortunately-many-people-find-the-only-challenges-they-can-respond/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [It is essential to learn to enjoy life. It really does not make sense to go through the motions of existence if one does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-essential-to-learn-to-enjoy-life-it-really-does-not-make-sense/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“It is usual to explain the motivation of those who enjoy dangerous activities as some sort of pathological need: they are trying to exorcise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-usual-to-explain-the-motivation-of-those-who-enjoy-dangerous/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Wisdom and integrity cannot be found in any single domain. A broader viewpoint that breaks across disciplinary boundaries is needed, a way of understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/wisdom-and-integrity-cannot-be-found-in-any-single-domain-a-broader/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Many business leaders today view their jobs as entailing responsibility for the welfare of the wider community. These individuals do not define themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/many-business-leaders-today-view-their-jobs-as-entailing/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The rules themselves are clear enough, and within everyone’s reach. But many forces, both within ourselves and in the environment, stand in the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/the-rules-themselves-are-clear-enough-and-within-everyone-s-reach-but/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [When each of these three elements of vision-concern for excellence, for people and for the wider environment-are present, business is transformed from a tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/when-each-of-these-three-elements-of-vision-concern-for-excellence/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [If an enterprise does not aspire to be the best of its kind, it will attract second-rate employees, and it will be soon forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/if-an-enterprise-does-not-aspire-to-be-the-best-of-its-kind-it-will/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Only direct control of experience, the ability to derive moment-by-moment enjoyment from everything we do, can overcome the obstacles to fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/only-direct-control-of-experience-the-ability-to-derive-moment-by/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Try to be surprised by something every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/try-to-be-surprised-by-something-every-day/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Shift often from openness to closure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/shift-often-from-openness-to-closure/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) [Explore all 262 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## More Determined quotes > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/ignorance-is-not-bliss-it-is-oblivion-determined-ignorance-is-the/) [Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/) > [I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-was-determined-to-be-an-actor-and-make-a-name-in-the-industry-and/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. Certainly nothing can keep you down if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/always-remember-there-is-more-strength-in-you-than-you-ever-realized/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [The more we sense...our ultimate potential, the more determined we become to achieve it. It's the difference between your mother hounding you to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-more-we-sense-our-ultimate-potential-the-more-determined-we/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your success will be determined by the quality of your relationships with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/your-success-will-be-determined-by-the-quality-of-your-relationships/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, Our Flag will be recognized throughout the World as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/we-are-determined-that-before-the-sun-sets-on-this-terrible-struggle/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) [Browse all 2,245 Determined quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Determined" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_determined_for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-d_79168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make…” — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi", "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": "Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For better or worse, our future...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/#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 } } ] } ```