--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I want to understand what is…" description: "\"When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.\" — Omar Khayyam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png" --- # When I want to understand what is happening today or try… ![“When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.” quote by Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png) > “When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.” [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To understand today or predict tomorrow, I reflect on the past. **In simple terms:** Look back to understand now and future. Key Takeaway Use history as a guide. Themes reflection history prediction learning wisdom Mood contemplative inquisitive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - strategic planning - personal growth - writing Key Concepts philosophy temporal awareness cause and effect Questions to Reflect On - What lessons from your past shape your present? - How can you use reflection without becoming stuck? A Different Perspective Past focus may hinder present action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [What you see isn't everything. If you want to understand what's happening before your eyes, look at the past. 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Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doyle-brunson/try-to-decide-how-good-your-hand-is-at-a-given-moment-nothing-else/) [Doyle Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doyle-brunson/) > [I always try and decide what I'm interested in, and I just do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-always-try-and-decide-what-i-m-interested-in-and-i-just-do-that/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [That moment when you try to decide if you should just keep waiting to see what happens or say that you deserve better and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/that-moment-when-you-try-to-decide-if-you-should-just-keep-waiting-to/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“In all your thinking and reading upon the question, constantly try to decide: (1) What will the other side admit? (2) Is there anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leverett-samuel-lyon/in-all-your-thinking-and-reading-upon-the-question-constantly-try-to/) Leverett Samuel Lyon > [“You try to decide if you should take this as a message of endings. Or beginnings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/you-try-to-decide-if-you-should-take-this-as-a-message-of-endings-or/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [Tomorrow…take a look. It's here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tomorrow-take-a-look-it-s-here/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes I look at myself and think, Is this it?, and then I think, Yes, it is. This is literally the best you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-wallace/sometimes-i-look-at-myself-and-think-is-this-it-and-then-i-think-yes/) [Danny Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-wallace/) > [Just . . . love me, and let tomorrow look after itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/just-love-me-and-let-tomorrow-look-after-itself/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [Tomorrow may not look the same as today, no matter how much you try to control it, all you need right now is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/tomorrow-may-not-look-the-same-as-today-no-matter-how-much-you-try-to/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) ## More by Omar Khayyam > [“The secrets eternal neither you know nor I And answers to the riddle neither you know nor I Behind the veil there is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/the-secrets-eternal-neither-you-know-nor-i-and-answers-to-the-riddle/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“And do you think that unto such as you A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew God gave a secret, and denied it me? Well, well—what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/and-do-you-think-that-unto-such-as-you-a-maggot-minded-starved/) [Omar Khayyâm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting? Better go drunk and begging round the taverns. Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-much-more-of-the-mosque-of-prayer-and-fasting-better-go-drunk-and/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“It is a shame for anyone to be well-known for righteousness. It is a great disgrace to feel distress at the injustice of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/it-is-a-shame-for-anyone-to-be-well-known-for-righteousness-it-is-a/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Why do you sell your wine, merchant? What can they give you in exchange for your wine? Money? … And what can money give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/why-do-you-sell-your-wine-merchant-what-can-they-give-you-in-exchange/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside, And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, Is it not a Shame--is it not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/why-if-the-soul-can-fling-the-dust-aside-and-naked-on-the-air-of/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Don't cry upon you losses Don't mesure today with tommorows Don't trust to passed and coming day Believe in now - and be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/don-t-cry-upon-you-losses-don-t-mesure-today-with-tommorows-don-t/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [In monasteries, seminaries, retreats and synagogues, they fear hell and seek paradise. Those who know the mysteries of God never let that seed be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/in-monasteries-seminaries-retreats-and-synagogues-they-fear-hell-and/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Living Life Tomorrow's fate, though thou be wise, Thou canst not tell nor yet surmise; Pass, therefore, not today in vain, For it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/living-life-tomorrow-s-fate-though-thou-be-wise-thou-canst-not-tell/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“When your soul and mine have left our bodies and we are burried alongside each other, a Potter may one day mould the dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-your-soul-and-mine-have-left-our-bodies-and-we-are-burried/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [How sad, a heart that does not know how to love, that does not know what it is to be drunk with love. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-sad-a-heart-that-does-not-know-how-to-love-that-does-not-know/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go, Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/ah-take-the-cash-and-let-the-credit-go-nor-heed-the-rumble-of-a/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Tomorrow! - Why, tomorrow I may be Myself with yesterday's sev'n thousand years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/tomorrow-why-tomorrow-i-may-be-myself-with-yesterday-s-sev-n-thousand/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Today is the time of my youth I drink wine because it is my solace; Do not blame me, although it is bitter it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/today-is-the-time-of-my-youth-i-drink-wine-because-it-is-my-solace-do/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Realise this: one day your soul will depart from your body and you will be drawn behind the curtain that floats between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/realise-this-one-day-your-soul-will-depart-from-your-body-and-you/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) [Explore all 190 Omar Khayyam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) ## More Today quotes > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! 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And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Not reassuring when weathermen say 'Today will be terrible but don't worry it won't be as terrible as tomorrow or Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/not-reassuring-when-weathermen-say-today-will-be-terrible-but-don-t/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. 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But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. 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It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) [Browse all 18,581 Today quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Omar Khayyam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happening-today-or-try-to-decide/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Today" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happening-today-or-try-to-decide/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/omar-khayy-m-1787_today_when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happen_138043.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.” — Omar Khayyam", "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": "Omar Khayyam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I want to understand what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happening-today-or-try-to-decide/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/when-i-want-to-understand-what-is-happening-today-or-try-to-decide/#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 } } ] } ```