--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, I think the things we see are…" description: "\"Sometimes, I think the things we see are shadows of the things to be; that what we plan we build\" — Phoebe Cary" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg" --- # Sometimes, I think the things we see are shadows of the… ![“Sometimes, I think the things we see are shadows of the things to be; that what we plan we build” quote by Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg) > “Sometimes, I think the things we see are shadows of the things to be; that what we plan we build” [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our perceptions are limited; we anticipate future realities that shape our plans and creations. **In simple terms:** We see only hints of future possibilities, which guide our building. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and let future visions inform present actions. Themes perception future creativity Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - design projects - strategic planning - creative brainstorming Key Concepts anticipation shadow metaphor planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between realistic forecasts and wishful thinking? - What methods help you test future assumptions? A Different Perspective Future visions may be inaccurate, leading to misguided efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [I was never going to be one to just go away quietly and get on with things in the shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/i-was-never-going-to-be-one-to-just-go-away-quietly-and-get-on-with/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [The shadows of things are greater than themselves; and the more exaggerated the shadow, the more unlike the substance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-shadows-of-things-are-greater-than-themselves-and-the-more/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“If you plan to build walls around me, know this—I will walk through them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/if-you-plan-to-build-walls-around-me-know-this-i-will-walk-through/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [When I left the work world, I started designing my dream house. I dived into architecture and bought seven vacant lots. My plan was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/when-i-left-the-work-world-i-started-designing-my-dream-house-i-dived/) [Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/) > [You need a plan to build a house. To build a life, it is even more important to have a plan or goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-need-a-plan-to-build-a-house-to-build-a-life-it-is-even-more/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“these are not real wants because they are not actual things. They are the by-products, the flavors and atmospheres of real things—shadows which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-are-not-real-wants-because-they-are-not-actual-things-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Depending on the places we passed, the night around us shaded from ink black to red to purple to a washed-out yellow that hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/depending-on-the-places-we-passed-the-night-around-us-shaded-from-ink/) [Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/) > [We learn that God IS; that he is in me; and that all things are shadows of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-learn-that-god-is-that-he-is-in-me-and-that-all-things-are-shadows/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There are shadows for the shadows of things, as a reflection seen in a mirror of a mirror. We know there are circles within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/there-are-shadows-for-the-shadows-of-things-as-a-reflection-seen-in-a/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Holding the knife with the blade against my palm, it became so clear how my life would only contain shadows now. Shadows of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-castle/holding-the-knife-with-the-blade-against-my-palm-it-became-so-clear/) [Jennifer Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-castle/) > [The book-worm wraps himself up in his web of verbal generalities, and sees only the glimmering shadows of things reflected from the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-book-worm-wraps-himself-up-in-his-web-of-verbal-generalities-and/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I would call back at least for literature this world of shadows we are losing. In the mansion called literature I would have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junichiro-tanizaki/i-would-call-back-at-least-for-literature-this-world-of-shadows-we/) [Junichiro Tanizaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junichiro-tanizaki/) > [The sun was trembling on the brink of the world, the shadows at their longest, and they still had several kilometers to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/the-sun-was-trembling-on-the-brink-of-the-world-the-shadows-at-their/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Even in the darkness, his smile threw shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/even-in-the-darkness-his-smile-threw-shadows/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Phoebe Cary > [And never since harvests were ripened, / Or laborers born, / Have men gathered figs of the thistle, / Or grapes of the thorn!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/and-never-since-harvests-were-ripened-or-laborers-born-have-men/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Do we call the star lost that is hidden / In the great light of morn?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/do-we-call-the-star-lost-that-is-hidden-in-the-great-light-of-morn/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Father, perfect my trust;Let my spirit feel in death,That her feet are firmly setOn the rock of a living faith!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/father-perfect-my-trust-let-my-spirit-feel-in-death-that-her-feet-are/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [But whenever she thanks the givers for favors great and small, she thinks of the good little sister who gave her more than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/but-whenever-she-thanks-the-givers-for-favors-great-and-small-she/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Never is true love blind, but rather brings an added light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/never-is-true-love-blind-but-rather-brings-an-added-light/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [All the great blessings of my life are present in my thoughts today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/all-the-great-blessings-of-my-life-are-present-in-my-thoughts-today/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Death comes not to the living soul, nor age to the loving heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/death-comes-not-to-the-living-soul-nor-age-to-the-loving-heart/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [O that one unguarded moment! / Were it mine to live again, / All the strength of its temptation / Would appeal to me in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/o-that-one-unguarded-moment-were-it-mine-to-live-again-all-the/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Books were put out, and 'had a run,' / Like coinage from the mint; / But which could fill the place of one, /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/books-were-put-out-and-had-a-run-like-coinage-from-the-mint-but-which/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Give plenty of what is given to you, And listen to pity's call. Don't think the little you give is great, And the much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/give-plenty-of-what-is-given-to-you-and-listen-to-pity-s-call-don-t/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [I know not which I love the most, Nor which the comeliest shows, The timid, bashful violet Or the royal-hearted rose: The pansy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/i-know-not-which-i-love-the-most-nor-which-the-comeliest-shows-the/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [Ah, there are moments for us here, when, seeing Life's inequalities, and woe, and care, The burdens laid upon our mortal being Seem heavier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/ah-there-are-moments-for-us-here-when-seeing-life-s-inequalities-and/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [I think true love is never blind, / But rather brings an added light; / An inner vision quick to find / The beauties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/i-think-true-love-is-never-blind-but-rather-brings-an-added-light-an/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [One sweetly solemn thought, comes to me o'er and o'er; I am nearer home today, than I ever have been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/one-sweetly-solemn-thought-comes-to-me-o-er-and-o-er-i-am-nearer-home/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) > [And though hard be the task, keep a stiff upper lip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/and-though-hard-be-the-task-keep-a-stiff-upper-lip/) [Phoebe Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) [Explore all 28 Phoebe Cary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/) ## More Plans quotes > [I'd rather hear a guy say, I've made plans for us, instead of the usual, I don't know; whatever you wanna do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-hear-a-guy-say-i-ve-made-plans-for-us-instead-of-the-usual/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [it's never been a plan to have this or that. It's just where I am in my life, at that time, and where my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-gigandet/it-s-never-been-a-plan-to-have-this-or-that-it-s-just-where-i-am-in/) [Cam Gigandet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-gigandet/) > [I really don't know what I could teach and don't really plan to teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/i-really-don-t-know-what-i-could-teach-and-don-t-really-plan-to-teach/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) Browse all 6,005 Plans quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes, I think the things we see are shadows of the things to be; that what we plan we build", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phoebe Cary" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are-shadows-of-the-things-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Plans" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are-shadows-of-the-things-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/phoebe-cary-21933_plans_sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are_1912401.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes, I think the things we see are shadows of the things to be; that what we plan we build” — Phoebe Cary", "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": "Phoebe Cary", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-cary/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes, I think the things we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are-shadows-of-the-things-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-cary/sometimes-i-think-the-things-we-see-are-shadows-of-the-things-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```