--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the…" description: "\"“Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the past, and after thinking it over notice nothing much lasts.”\" — Robert Hunter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png" --- # Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the past, and after… ![“Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the past, and after thinking it over notice nothing much lasts.” quote by Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png) > ““Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the past, and after thinking it over notice nothing much lasts.”” [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing forward vision with historical awareness reveals the fleeting nature of most things. **In simple terms:** Look ahead, listen back, accept impermanence. Key Takeaway Stay adaptable and cherish the present. Themes time impermanence wisdom Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - career decisions - relationship management - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy historical perspective future planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance planning for the future with appreciating the present? - What past lessons can guide your current choices? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on change can cause anxiety about stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [I live in the present with an eye on the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-dhoni/i-live-in-the-present-with-an-eye-on-the-future/) [MS Dhoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-dhoni/) > [I'm just really trying to say what I really mean, which is: 'Your eye's on the prize, your eye's on the future. It's nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-m-just-really-trying-to-say-what-i-really-mean-which-is-your-eye-s/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I think the most well-adjusted people live in the present with an eye toward the future - I'm not among those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-think-the-most-well-adjusted-people-live-in-the-present-with-an-eye/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [You always have an eye to the future but you always honor the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rhule/you-always-have-an-eye-to-the-future-but-you-always-honor-the-past/) [Matt Rhule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rhule/) > [I've just always kept an eye on the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hinchcliffe/i-ve-just-always-kept-an-eye-on-the-future/) [Tony Hinchcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hinchcliffe/) > [I'm still the same person that you met in the past, Thinking about life and how it past by so fast, The primary thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-williams-559/i-m-still-the-same-person-that-you-met-in-the-past-thinking-about/) Byron Williams 559 > [“Your life was a hypothesis. Those who die old are made of the past. Thinking of them, one thinks of what they have done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-lev/your-life-was-a-hypothesis-those-who-die-old-are-made-of-the-past/) [Edouard Levé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-lev/) > [Keep off your thoughts from things that are past and done; for thinking of the past wakes regret and pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-waley/keep-off-your-thoughts-from-things-that-are-past-and-done-for/) Arthur Waley > [“Life goes on whether you choose to move on and take a chance in the unknown or stay behind, locked in the past, thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-smith/life-goes-on-whether-you-choose-to-move-on-and-take-a-chance-in-the-2/) Stephanie Smith > [I look at all the pictures of the past \* thinking of how the years went by so fast \* the dances \* the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-look-at-all-the-pictures-of-the-past-thinking-of-how-the-years-went/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Life goes on, whether you choose to move on and take a chance in the unknown, or stay behind, locked in the past, thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-sawyer/life-goes-on-whether-you-choose-to-move-on-and-take-a-chance-in-the/) [Crystal Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-sawyer/) > [There ain't a man in the world cares about a woman's past until he's thinking of her in his future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dru-pagliassotti/there-ain-t-a-man-in-the-world-cares-about-a-woman-s-past-until-he-s/) [Dru Pagliassotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dru-pagliassotti/) > [When am alone looking at one thing my friends say I just have gonu madd bt oly iknow am in the past thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priya/when-am-alone-looking-at-one-thing-my-friends-say-i-just-have-gonu/) [Priya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priya/) > [Fear is when we're thinking about the past or thinking about the future, two things that do not exist. If we stay in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-mcnamara/fear-is-when-we-re-thinking-about-the-past-or-thinking-about-the/) [Garrett McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-mcnamara/) > [If the past is the past, why I'm I thinking of the past in the present? And why is everyone thinking of the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/if-the-past-is-the-past-why-i-m-i-thinking-of-the-past-in-the-present/) [Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/) ## More by Robert Hunter > [The sky was yellow and the sun was blue...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/the-sky-was-yellow-and-the-sun-was-blue/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [When you get ready to vote, make sure you know what you are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/when-you-get-ready-to-vote-make-sure-you-know-what-you-are-doing/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [At the top of the cycle you write policies for everybody, no matter how bad, and at the bottom you cancel everybody, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/at-the-top-of-the-cycle-you-write-policies-for-everybody-no-matter/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Poised for flight, Wings spread bright, Spring from night into the Sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/poised-for-flight-wings-spread-bright-spring-from-night-into-the-sun/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [When it seems like the night will last forever, And there's nothing left to do but count the years, When the strings of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/when-it-seems-like-the-night-will-last-forever-and-there-s-nothing/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Ain't nobody messin' with you but you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/ain-t-nobody-messin-with-you-but-you/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [There are times when you get hit upon, Try hard but you cannot give. Other times you'd gladly part, With what you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/there-are-times-when-you-get-hit-upon-try-hard-but-you-cannot-give/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [In wickedness of pride is lost the light to understand how little grace is earned and how much given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/in-wickedness-of-pride-is-lost-the-light-to-understand-how-little/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Being in a floodplain is like sitting down in a bathtub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/being-in-a-floodplain-is-like-sitting-down-in-a-bathtub/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Stop thinking...The more you think, the faster you cut your own throat. What is there to think about? It always ends up the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/stop-thinking-the-more-you-think-the-faster-you-cut-your-own-throat/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [“There's a better way. There has to be education, and the education has to come from the poets and musicians, because it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/there-s-a-better-way-there-has-to-be-education-and-the-education-has/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Counting stars by candlelight all are dim but one is bright; the spiral light of Venus rising first and shining best, from the northwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/counting-stars-by-candlelight-all-are-dim-but-one-is-bright-the/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Driving that train, high on cocaine Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed Trouble ahead, trouble behind And you know that notion just crossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/driving-that-train-high-on-cocaine-casey-jones-you-d-better-watch/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Perhaps people don't come into their true maturity until a parent dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/perhaps-people-don-t-come-into-their-true-maturity-until-a-parent-dies/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [I feel I've got 10 books in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/i-feel-i-ve-got-10-books-in-me/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) [Explore all 58 Robert Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) ## More Future quotes > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [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/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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": "“Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the past, and after thinking it over notice nothing much lasts.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Hunter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the-past-and-after-thinking-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the-past-and-after-thinking-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/robert-hunter-11737_future_keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the_1213725.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Keep an eye to the future, and ear to the past, and after thinking it over notice nothing much lasts.” — Robert Hunter", "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": "Robert Hunter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Keep an eye to the future,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the-past-and-after-thinking-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/keep-an-eye-to-the-future-and-ear-to-the-past-and-after-thinking-it/#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 } } ] } ```