--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If future history is not to be just one…" description: "\"If future history is not to be just one damned thing after another in space, then what we really have to do is in some way overcome this linear experie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/quentin-s-crisp-4149_existence_if-future-history-is-not-to-be-just-one_2876034.jpg" --- # If future history is not to be just one damned thing after… ![“If future history is not to be just one damned thing after another in space, then what we really have to do is in some way overcome this linear experience of time that makes all existence a quest for something that will never be found.And philosophies such as Zen seem to hint that this is possible.” quote by Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/quentin-s-crisp-4149_existence_if-future-history-is-not-to-be-just-one_2876034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/quentin-s-crisp-4149_existence_if-future-history-is-not-to-be-just-one_2876034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/quentin-s-crisp-4149_existence_if-future-history-is-not-to-be-just-one_2876034.jpg) > “If future history is not to be just one damned thing after another in space, then what we really have to do is in some way overcome this linear experience of time that makes all existence a quest for something that will never be found.And philosophies such as Zen seem to hint that this is possible.” [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must transcend linear time to find meaning, as Zen suggests possibility. **In simple terms:** Escape linear time for deeper purpose. Key Takeaway Explore practices that alter time perception. Themes time meaning Zen Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - creative projects - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts metaphysics spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What experiences challenge your sense of time? - How can Zen inform daily life? A Different Perspective Linear thinking is deeply ingrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I am a cautious pilgrim of the night, a tentative wanderer among the stars. My awareness of my home in the universe is fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-raymo/i-am-a-cautious-pilgrim-of-the-night-a-tentative-wanderer-among-the/) [Chet Raymo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-raymo/) > [As a kid, I was obsessed with space. Well, I was obsessed with nuclear science too, to a point, but before that, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-wilson/as-a-kid-i-was-obsessed-with-space-well-i-was-obsessed-with-nuclear/) [Taylor Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-wilson/) > [I was the most emotional of the flight directors. Space really got me all honked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kranz/i-was-the-most-emotional-of-the-flight-directors-space-really-got-me/) [Gene Kranz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kranz/) > [“Just as we envision all of space as really being out there, as really existing, we should also envision all of time as really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/just-as-we-envision-all-of-space-as-really-being-out-there-as-really/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [I've wanted to go to space, really, since I was a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/i-ve-wanted-to-go-to-space-really-since-i-was-a-little-girl/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [One of the coolest things to me about living in space was it really caused me to think about how the human body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/one-of-the-coolest-things-to-me-about-living-in-space-was-it-really/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [Space is really big-REALLY big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/space-is-really-big-really-big/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [It's cool to be able to give each other that space to really explore ourselves individually and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-jauregui/it-s-cool-to-be-able-to-give-each-other-that-space-to-really-explore/) [Lauren Jauregui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-jauregui/) > [The view from space is really very special. From the window, you can look back at the Earth and see the stars around you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-sharman/the-view-from-space-is-really-very-special-from-the-window-you-can/) [Helen Sharman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-sharman/) > [There was a point in my life where I either wanted to be an astronaut, an actor, a veterinarian, or a pirate. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bett-rickards/there-was-a-point-in-my-life-where-i-either-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut/) [Emily Bett Rickards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bett-rickards/) > [You're working with such limited space, it's not really possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wall/you-re-working-with-such-limited-space-it-s-not-really-possible/) [Paul Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wall/) > [Once you get into space, you can really unleash a lot of creativity, but the launch itself? I have been through all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/once-you-get-into-space-you-can-really-unleash-a-lot-of-creativity/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“Matter occupies space, and you can only have space for what really matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-miniano/matter-occupies-space-and-you-can-only-have-space-for-what-really/) [Marla Miniano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-miniano/) > [Space is really domain expansion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-taylor/space-is-really-domain-expansion/) [Dylan Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-taylor/) > [If we do overcome linear time, I would hope this means dwelling more directly in the fertility of the imagination rather than denying it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/if-we-do-overcome-linear-time-i-would-hope-this-means-dwelling-more/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) ## More by Quentin S. Crisp > [I have a sense of them being Easter religions, for some reason. Christianity, of course, is a mystery religion, too, and I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-sense-of-them-being-easter-religions-for-some-reason/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ If we do want to do that \[ colonise space to survive, \], then vacuous materialism is not going to be enough for us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/if-we-do-want-to-do-that-colonise-space-to-survive-then-vacuous/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I seemed to recall some words from an old Zen master, something like, "My Zen cuts down mountains." My rejection of Buddhism was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-seemed-to-recall-some-words-from-an-old-zen-master-something-like/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ This is the strange thing about existing in time. As \[Philip\] Larkin puts it, "truly, though our element is time, we are not used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-is-the-strange-thing-about-existing-in-time-as-philip-larkin/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I've never been baptised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-ve-never-been-baptised/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [It would be hard to say that exactly, but antinatalism is a reality in my life, not just an interesting idea. I can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/it-would-be-hard-to-say-that-exactly-but-antinatalism-is-a-reality-in/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ \[william\] Burroughs, incidentally, took up the slogan that we are "Here to go", which contradicts the tendency in Eastern mysticism to advocate staying where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/william-burroughs-incidentally-took-up-the-slogan-that-we-are-here-to/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [As children in the seventies we were told about nebulous 'strangers'. By definition, we didn't know who these strangers were, and we didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/as-children-in-the-seventies-we-were-told-about-nebulous-strangers-by/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [This is part of the fundamental character of Buddhism that I find problematic - that it is not interested in anything. Hence the 'Fascination'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-is-part-of-the-fundamental-character-of-buddhism-that-i-find/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ I also remember a line from a song by Smog \[Bill Callahan\], which seems to describe the experience of a town-dweller moving to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-also-remember-a-line-from-a-song-by-smog-bill-callahan-which-seems/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [This strong sense of who I am that I've always had, since I was very young, is what makes me write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-strong-sense-of-who-i-am-that-i-ve-always-had-since-i-was-very/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I like the concept of an anti-muse, though I'm not quite sure what that is. If there is such a thing in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-like-the-concept-of-an-anti-muse-though-i-m-not-quite-sure-what/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ I really think \[William\] Burroughs was onto something here, when he said, "Dreams are a biologic necessity and your lifeline into space." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-really-think-william-burroughs-was-onto-something-here-when-he-said/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ \[My muse\] is, in fact, a woman of the world, and precisely because of this, hopes that a diversity of cultures will endure, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/my-muse-is-in-fact-a-woman-of-the-world-and-precisely-because-of-this/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I do have a muse. I am not sure how to describe her. She can be very elusive. She was born in England but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-do-have-a-muse-i-am-not-sure-how-to-describe-her-she-can-be-very/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) [Explore all 115 Quentin S. Crisp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) ## More Existence quotes > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/universities-are-the-cathedrals-of-the-modern-age-they-shouldn-t-have/) [David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 7,646 Existence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If future history is not to be just one damned thing after another in space, then what we really have to do is in some way overcome this linear experience of time that makes all existence a quest for something that will never be found.And philosophies such as Zen seem to hint that this is possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quentin S. 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