--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They who look but little into futurity…" description: "\"They who look but little into futurity, have, perhaps, the quickest sensation of the present.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/samuel-johnson-50_future_they-who-look-but-little-into-futurity-h_3211869.png" --- # They who look but little into futurity, have, perhaps, the… ![“They who look but little into futurity, have, perhaps, the quickest sensation of the present.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/samuel-johnson-50_future_they-who-look-but-little-into-futurity-h_3211869.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/samuel-johnson-50_future_they-who-look-but-little-into-futurity-h_3211869.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/samuel-johnson-50_future_they-who-look-but-little-into-futurity-h_3211869.png) > “They who look but little into futurity, have, perhaps, the quickest sensation of the present.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on the present can make it feel more intense, while thinking about the future can dull present awareness. **In simple terms:** Present focus heightens immediate feeling. Key Takeaway Appreciate the now. Themes presence mindfulness temporal perception Mood reflective contemplative Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - daily work - meditation - stress management - creative brainstorming Key Concepts psychology philosophy cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does present focus affect long‑term goals? - What balances present intensity with future planning? A Different Perspective Neglecting future planning may cause short‑termism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Futurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/futurity-1113897/) [Futurity Quickest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/futurity-quickest-6004106/) [Little Futurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-futurity-6004104/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Quickest Sensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickest-sensation-6004105/) [Sensation Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensation-present-1704189/) [Sensations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensations/) ## Related quotes > [If I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-i-had-no-duties-and-no-reference-to-futurity-i-would-spend-my-life/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I cannot exist without you - I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again - my Life seems to stop there -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-cannot-exist-without-you-i-am-forgetful-of-every-thing-but-seeing/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“Asking why had somehow led me to the thing that I loved—the feeling of moving over the earth, with the earth, the sensation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-jurek/asking-why-had-somehow-led-me-to-the-thing-that-i-loved-the-feeling/) [Scott Jurek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-jurek/) > [You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/you-have-absorb-d-me-i-have-a-sensation-at-the-present-moment-as/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [We can trace back our existence almost to a point. Former time presents us with trains of thoughts gradually diminishing to nothing. 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The time present is seldom able to fill desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/it-seems-to-be-the-fate-of-man-to-seek-all-his-consolations-in/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [It ever is the marked propensity of restless and aspiring minds to look into the stretch of dark futurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-baillie/it-ever-is-the-marked-propensity-of-restless-and-aspiring-minds-to/) [Joanna Baillie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-baillie/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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. 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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. 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