--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The past has gone, the future's a…" description: "\"“The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present is a gift. So open your fucking gift, maybe you'll find peace in the present inside it.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg" --- # The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present… ![“The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present is a gift. So open your fucking gift, maybe you'll find peace in the present inside it.” quote by S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg) > ““The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present is a gift. So open your fucking gift, maybe you'll find peace in the present inside it.”” [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The present is a gift, unlike the past or future, and embracing it can bring peace. **In simple terms:** Live in the present for peace. Key Takeaway Focus on now. Themes mindfulness presence peace acceptance Mood calm hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - stress relief - creative work - relationships Key Concepts temporal philosophy gratitude self-compassion Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor the present? - What gifts does the present hold? A Different Perspective Ignoring the present can cause missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > ['live life to the fullest and enjoy life now don't worry about the future and enjoy the present ,the present is a gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-life-to-the-fullest-and-enjoy-life-now-don-t-worry-about-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you are present, present is a gift - Oblivious to the present, present starts to drift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-you-are-present-present-is-a-gift-oblivious-to-the-present/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Never lookin' back or too far in front of me; the present is a gift and I just wanna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/never-lookin-back-or-too-far-in-front-of-me-the-present-is-a-gift-and/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [Never looking back or too far in front of me, The present is a gift, and I just want to Be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-looking-back-or-too-far-in-front-of-me-the-present-is-a-gift/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don,t wanna forget the present is a gift.and I don,t wanna take for granted the time you may have here with me.couse lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konghlapru/i-don-t-wanna-forget-the-present-is-a-gift-and-i-don-t-wanna-take-for/) Konghlapru > [Guys who kiss their girlfriends hands are a fucking gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/guys-who-kiss-their-girlfriends-hands-are-a-fucking-gift/) Patience > [Baby that's a gift, maybe you can live. I knew it wouldn't work but I just like to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/baby-that-s-a-gift-maybe-you-can-live-i-knew-it-wouldn-t-work-but-i/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-the-present-is-a-gift/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/peace-is-present-right-here-and-now-in-ourselves-and-in-everything-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Working for peace in the future is to work for peace in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/working-for-peace-in-the-future-is-to-work-for-peace-in-the-present/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/peace-is-present-right-here-and-now-in-ourselves-and-in-everything/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Peace is present when things form part of a whole greater than their sum, as the diverse minerals in the ground collect to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/peace-is-present-when-things-form-part-of-a-whole-greater-than-their/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Past and future is determined by what is now…right now! This is why the present is a gift; the only one that ultimately matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/past-and-future-is-determined-by-what-is-now-right-now-this-is-why/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [“God lives in the Now. There is always peace in the present moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/god-lives-in-the-now-there-is-always-peace-in-the-present-moment/) [Dragos Bratasanu, Ph.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/) > [There is no peace that cannot be found in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-tudor/there-is-no-peace-that-cannot-be-found-in-the-present-moment/) [Tasha Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-tudor/) ## More by S.K. Hartley > [“You have ripped my fucking heart out, Neva and what's worse is that I love you far too fucking much to hate you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/you-have-ripped-my-fucking-heart-out-neva-and-what-s-worse-is-that-i/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“You scare the shit out of me, Logan.” I said, watching as Logan’s face flashed with shock. “You know me on a level that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/you-scare-the-shit-out-of-me-logan-i-said-watching-as-logan-s-face/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“My mom once said, we hurt the people we love the most, but the ability for them to love you despite the hurt is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/my-mom-once-said-we-hurt-the-people-we-love-the-most-but-the-ability/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“In life, tragedy and loss happen every single day and nobody is immune. There are only two certainties in this world. You are born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/in-life-tragedy-and-loss-happen-every-single-day-and-nobody-is-immune/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“Baby, you can do this. You were born to sing, Neva. Your voice can bring life to the lifeless, love to the loveless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/baby-you-can-do-this-you-were-born-to-sing-neva-your-voice-can-bring/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you. I will always love you, Neva.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/i-ll-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-loving-you-i-will-always-love-you-neva/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“I can't keep protecting someone who doesn't want to be protected. I can't keep doing this, Neva. You need to learn how to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/i-can-t-keep-protecting-someone-who-doesn-t-want-to-be-protected-i/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“If the door of opportunity doesn't open, knock it the fuck down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/if-the-door-of-opportunity-doesn-t-open-knock-it-the-fuck-down/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“We accept life, breathe it in and celebrate it. But when death rocks our world, turning our happiness into hurt and grief, we fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/we-accept-life-breathe-it-in-and-celebrate-it-but-when-death-rocks/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“You have no idea that I have been in love with you from the moment I held you for the first time. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/you-have-no-idea-that-i-have-been-in-love-with-you-from-the-moment-i/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) > [“Death is one of life’s biggest weakness, it's the one thing that will break even the strongest of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/death-is-one-of-life-s-biggest-weakness-it-s-the-one-thing-that-will/) [S.K. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) [Explore all 12 S.K. Hartley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [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/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/) [Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present is a gift. So open your fucking gift, maybe you'll find peace in the present inside it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S.K. Hartley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery-but-the-present-is-a-gift-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Peace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery-but-the-present-is-a-gift-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/s-k-hartley-36964_peace_the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery_959252.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The past has gone, the future's a mystery, but the present is a gift. So open your fucking gift, maybe…” — S.K. Hartley", "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": "S.K. Hartley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-hartley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The past has gone, the future's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery-but-the-present-is-a-gift-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-hartley/the-past-has-gone-the-future-s-a-mystery-but-the-present-is-a-gift-so/#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 } } ] } ```