--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life moves in one direction only - and…" description: "\"Life moves in one direction only - and each day we are faced with an actual set of circumstances, not with what might have been, not with what we might..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03c/richard-l-evans-9573_circumstances_life-moves-in-one-direction-only-and-eac_2053526.jpg" --- # Life moves in one direction only - and each day we are… ![“Life moves in one direction only - and each day we are faced with an actual set of circumstances, not with what might have been, not with what we might have done, but with what is, and with where we are now- and from this point we must proceed; not from where we were, not from where we wish we…” quote by Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03c/richard-l-evans-9573_circumstances_life-moves-in-one-direction-only-and-eac_2053526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03c/richard-l-evans-9573_circumstances_life-moves-in-one-direction-only-and-eac_2053526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03c/richard-l-evans-9573_circumstances_life-moves-in-one-direction-only-and-eac_2053526.jpg) > “Life moves in one direction only - and each day we are faced with an actual set of circumstances, not with what might have been, not with what we might have done, but with what is, and with where we are now- and from this point we must proceed; not from where we were, not from where we wish we were - but from where we are.” [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on present circumstances and move forward from where you are, not on past regrets or imagined futures. **In simple terms:** Live in the now and act from your current reality. Key Takeaway Act based on today’s reality. Themes presence progress mindset Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decisions - career planning - relationship choices - health goals Key Concepts acceptance agency temporal focus Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on the present change your choices? - What past regrets hold you back? A Different Perspective Ignoring past lessons can repeat mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each-day/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [If you are clear where you are going and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually have to get there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-are-clear-where-you-are-going-and-you-take-several-steps-in/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [“The second reason for which the military mind addresses itself to specific assumed situations is on the occasions when there may in reality exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-second-reason-for-which-the-military-mind-addresses-itself-to/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [Anyone is capable of anything given the right set of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-fortier/anyone-is-capable-of-anything-given-the-right-set-of-circumstances/) Zach Fortier > [Each season was different and presented its own set of circumstances and challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/each-season-was-different-and-presented-its-own-set-of-circumstances/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [“And yet the enemy is the one who set up the circumstances to make you believe that in the first place. First he gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-rubart/and-yet-the-enemy-is-the-one-who-set-up-the-circumstances-to-make-you/) [James L. Rubart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-rubart/) > [I can't imagine a set of circumstances that would produce Chapter 11 for Eastern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lorenzo/i-can-t-imagine-a-set-of-circumstances-that-would-produce-chapter-11/) Frank Lorenzo > [“We tend to take whatever’s worked in our particular set of circumstances (big family, small family, AP, Ezzo, home school, public school) and project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/we-tend-to-take-whatever-s-worked-in-our-particular-set-of/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [Lesson number one: opportunity can be manufactured. Yes, you can wait around for the right set of circumstances to fall into place and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/lesson-number-one-opportunity-can-be-manufactured-yes-you-can-wait/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [Given the right set of circumstances any one of us could become dangerous - so why not show that in our programmes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/given-the-right-set-of-circumstances-any-one-of-us-could-become/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [“The probability of a certain set of circumstances coming together in a meaningful (or tragic) way is so low that it simply cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-king/the-probability-of-a-certain-set-of-circumstances-coming-together-in/) V.C. King > [“In every set of circumstances, we get to create our own experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-hallis/in-every-set-of-circumstances-we-get-to-create-our-own-experience/) [Tina Hallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-hallis/) > [“But what I want to know is, is there a you independent of circumstances? Is there a way-down-deep me who is an actual, real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-what-i-want-to-know-is-is-there-a-you-independent-of/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [One can choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/one-can-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-set-of-circumstances/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Life moves out of a red flare of dreams Into a common light of common hours, Until old age brings the red flare again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/life-moves-out-of-a-red-flare-of-dreams-into-a-common-light-of-common/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) ## More by Richard L. Evans > [There never was a tonic that would cure more social ailments than a healthy, happy home. There never was a greater source of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/there-never-was-a-tonic-that-would-cure-more-social-ailments-than-a/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Things I don't understand don't destroy my faith in the things I do understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/things-i-don-t-understand-don-t-destroy-my-faith-in-the-things-i-do/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Too much pessimism has led too many men into making serious mistakes. And perhaps part of our pessimism comes because we are too close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/too-much-pessimism-has-led-too-many-men-into-making-serious-mistakes/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [If we don't want temptation to follow us, we shouldn't act as if we are interested. No one ever fell over a precipice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/if-we-don-t-want-temptation-to-follow-us-we-shouldn-t-act-as-if-we/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Any man who can't control his thoughts can't control his actions, and any man who can't control his actions isn't safe in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/any-man-who-can-t-control-his-thoughts-can-t-control-his-actions-and/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [The interruption we now impatiently put off may be the most important thing we could be doing at this particular time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/the-interruption-we-now-impatiently-put-off-may-be-the-most-important/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Go ahead with your life, your plans… Don't waste time by stopping before the interruptions have started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/go-ahead-with-your-life-your-plans-don-t-waste-time-by-stopping/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [When in the world are we going to begin to live as if we understood that this is life? This is our time, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/when-in-the-world-are-we-going-to-begin-to-live-as-if-we-understood/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [All things need watching, working at, caring for, and marriage is no exception. Marriage is not something to be indifferently treated or abused, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/all-things-need-watching-working-at-caring-for-and-marriage-is-no/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [May we never let the things we can't have, or don't have, or shouldn't have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/may-we-never-let-the-things-we-can-t-have-or-don-t-have-or-shouldn-t/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Freedom cannot always continue in comfort and convenience, cannot be assured without sacrifice, without truth and decency, without willingness to work, without downright honesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/freedom-cannot-always-continue-in-comfort-and-convenience-cannot-be/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [If you don't want temptation to follow you, don't act as if you are interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/if-you-don-t-want-temptation-to-follow-you-don-t-act-as-if-you-are/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [There must be a priority of values in all our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/there-must-be-a-priority-of-values-in-all-our-lives/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [This is life-and it is passing. What are we waiting for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/this-is-life-and-it-is-passing-what-are-we-waiting-for/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Keep courage. Whatever you do, do not feel sorry for yourself. You will win in a great age of opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/keep-courage-whatever-you-do-do-not-feel-sorry-for-yourself-you-will/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) [Explore all 71 Richard L. Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life moves in one direction only - and each day we are faced with an actual set of circumstances, not with what might have been, not with what we might have done, but with what is, and with where we are now- and from this point we must proceed; not from where we were, not from where we wish we were - but from where we are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard L. 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