--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They had no past. They had no future…" description: "\"They had no past. They had no future. They just were.\" — Paullina Simons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/paullina-simons-1314_future_they-had-no-past-they-had-no-future-they_2801757.png" --- # They had no past. They had no future. They just were. ![“They had no past. They had no future. They just were.” quote by Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/paullina-simons-1314_future_they-had-no-past-they-had-no-future-they_2801757.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/paullina-simons-1314_future_they-had-no-past-they-had-no-future-they_2801757.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/paullina-simons-1314_future_they-had-no-past-they-had-no-future-they_2801757.png) > “They had no past. They had no future. They just were.” [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters exist outside of past and future, simply being. **In simple terms:** They just exist. Key Takeaway Embrace present existence. Themes existence timelessness being Mood serene philosophical Type existential spiritual When to use this quote - mindfulness practice - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts Present‑moment awareness nihilism Questions to Reflect On - How does being present affect you? - What role does memory play? A Different Perspective Denial of past/future can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-just/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Our future is just a past yet to arrive, our past a future come and gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuhiko-kyogoku/our-future-is-just-a-past-yet-to-arrive-our-past-a-future-come-and/) [Natsuhiko Kyogoku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuhiko-kyogoku/) > [You cannot find yourself in the past or future.The only place where you can find yourself is in the Now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-malabago/you-cannot-find-yourself-in-the-past-or-future-the-only-place-where/) [Regina Malabago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-malabago/) > [Capitalism is not the system of the past; it is the system of the future -- if mankind is to have a future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/capitalism-is-not-the-system-of-the-past-it-is-the-system-of-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/as-an-architect-you-design-for-the-present-with-an-awareness-of-the/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [I'm not good at future planning. I don't plan at all. I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. I don't have a day planner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heath-ledger/i-m-not-good-at-future-planning-i-don-t-plan-at-all-i-don-t-know-what/) [Heath Ledger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heath-ledger/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Knowledge owns the past and future, as long as we've the information we've power over the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/knowledge-owns-the-past-and-future-as-long-as-we-ve-the-information/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“Inhale the present, exhale the past and the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/inhale-the-present-exhale-the-past-and-the-future/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [The increase of disorder or entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-increase-of-disorder-or-entropy-is-what-distinguishes-the-past/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [You can be whoever you choose to become in the future, just do it. Just see it and visualize it and every day of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/you-can-be-whoever-you-choose-to-become-in-the-future-just-do-it-just/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“No need to be worry what will happened in the future, just live it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainun-annisa/no-need-to-be-worry-what-will-happened-in-the-future-just-live-it/) [Ainun Annisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainun-annisa/) > [“There's nothing wrong with seeing. If you see a "bad future", just change it, is all. Things'll turn out okay, as long as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakura-tsukuba/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-seeing-if-you-see-a-bad-future-just-change/) [Sakura Tsukuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakura-tsukuba/) > [I must participate in designing the future of just how the world works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-gordon/i-must-participate-in-designing-the-future-of-just-how-the-world-works/) [J D Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-gordon/) > [Future is gonna be remembered forever. Future just has so much quality music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-peep/future-is-gonna-be-remembered-forever-future-just-has-so-much-quality/) [Lil Peep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-peep/) > [“You know what the future is? The future is just a bunch of what you're doing right now, strung together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-handfield/you-know-what-the-future-is-the-future-is-just-a-bunch-of-what-you-re/) [Don Handfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-handfield/) ## More by Paullina Simons > [“You think she needs a chaperone?” When they didn’t answer, the nun tutted disapprovingly. “Let me explain something to you, Mrs. Attaviano, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/you-think-she-needs-a-chaperone-when-they-didn-t-answer-the-nun/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [When Tatiana looked up from her ice cream, she saw a soldier staring at her from across the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/when-tatiana-looked-up-from-her-ice-cream-she-saw-a-soldier-staring/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“I saved you for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/i-saved-you-for-me/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“You want to know what I thought of in that boat? 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She thinks, looks at him, looks to see where Anthony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/have-a-joke-for-me-tania-he-says-i-could-use-a-joke-hmm-she-thinks/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [I'm going to die with Alexander's hand on my face, Tatiana thought. That is not a bad way to die. I cannot move. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/i-m-going-to-die-with-alexander-s-hand-on-my-face-tatiana-thought/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“They came with their children, for no one left the children behind - it was for the children they had come, wanting to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/they-came-with-their-children-for-no-one-left-the-children-behind-it/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [We can’t forget that I owe you my life.” She gazed at him. “We can’t forget that I belong to you.” “I like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/we-can-t-forget-that-i-owe-you-my-life-she-gazed-at-him-we-can-t/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“Come on,” he said quietly, bending to her and lifting her whole into his arms. He carried her inside. After setting her down next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/come-on-he-said-quietly-bending-to-her-and-lifting-her-whole-into-his/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [Alexander knew that before he had light instead of darkness, he had to deserve light instead of darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/alexander-knew-that-before-he-had-light-instead-of-darkness-he-had-to/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“What a prison you have set up for me with your first love.” She put her arms tighter around him and said teasingly, “Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/what-a-prison-you-have-set-up-for-me-with-your-first-love-she-put-her/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [Please stop looking at me, she thought, afraid of his eyes and terrified of her own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/please-stop-looking-at-me-she-thought-afraid-of-his-eyes-and/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [“We’re moving cities, we’re changing our name just like this hotel. 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On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [“We have no idea, now, of who or what the inhabitants of our future might be. In that sense, we have no future. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/we-have-no-idea-now-of-who-or-what-the-inhabitants-of-our-future/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [Football is my passion, and who knows where I will play in the future - you cannot foresee that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/football-is-my-passion-and-who-knows-where-i-will-play-in-the-future/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [I think everybody in the future has stopped talking to each other and we all just use emojis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/i-think-everybody-in-the-future-has-stopped-talking-to-each-other-and/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [When you continue to dwell on the past, there's no chance for a future. History repeats itself, thus, it's ok to LOOK back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-continue-to-dwell-on-the-past-there-s-no-chance-for-a-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) [Browse all 12,349 Future quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They had no past. They had no future. 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