--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always best to look ahead and not…" description: "\"“It's always best to look ahead and not backwards. Possessions are not important. Think of those beautiful porcelain pieces I had. Before they came to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/nien-cheng-28483_life-itself_it-s-always-best-to-look-ahead-and-not-b_2905037.png" --- # It's always best to look ahead and not backwards… ![“It's always best to look ahead and not backwards. Possessions are not important. Think of those beautiful porcelain pieces I had. Before they came to me, they had all passed through the hands of many people, surviving wars and natural disasters. I got them only because someone else lost them…” quote by Nien Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/nien-cheng-28483_life-itself_it-s-always-best-to-look-ahead-and-not-b_2905037.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/nien-cheng-28483_life-itself_it-s-always-best-to-look-ahead-and-not-b_2905037.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/nien-cheng-28483_life-itself_it-s-always-best-to-look-ahead-and-not-b_2905037.png) > ““It's always best to look ahead and not backwards. Possessions are not important. Think of those beautiful porcelain pieces I had. Before they came to me, they had all passed through the hands of many people, surviving wars and natural disasters. I got them only because someone else lost them. While I had them, I enjoyed them; now some other people will enjoy them. Life itself is transitory. Possessions are not important.”” [Nien Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nien-cheng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is fleeting; possessions are temporary and pass through many hands, so they hold little lasting value. **In simple terms:** Things are temporary; value lies beyond material goods. Key Takeaway Focus on experiences, not belongings. Themes impermanence materialism legacy Mood reflective philosophical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - collecting antiques - inheritance - gift giving - reflecting on loss - mindful consumption Key Concepts transience ownership human connection Questions to Reflect On - How do you find meaning beyond material things? - What role do memories play in valuing possessions? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize loss without addressing the pain of losing cherished items. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backwards Possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backwards-possessions-4153029/) [Important Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-think/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Natural disasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-disasters/) [Possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions/) [Possessions Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions-important-1755650/) [Transitory Possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transitory-possessions-4153030/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [A willingness to share our possessions with one another is a very important aspect of true biblical community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/a-willingness-to-share-our-possessions-with-one-another-is-a-very/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [I've dealt with losing close ones before, and I've been around friends that have lost friends at a young age. 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