--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict…" description: "\"“Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”\" — Satya Nadella" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png" --- # Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to… ![“Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” quote by Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png) > ““Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”” [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating the future requires proactive invention rather than passive prediction. **In simple terms:** Invent to shape the future. Key Takeaway Take action to create desired outcomes. Themes innovation future agency Mood optimistic determined Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - business strategy - personal projects - industry trends Key Concepts design thinking technology leadership Questions to Reflect On - What can you invent today? - How do you balance invention with practicality? A Different Perspective Innovation can be risky and resources are limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We cannot predict the future, but we can invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/we-cannot-predict-the-future-but-we-can-invent-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Don't worry about what anybody else is going to do. The best way to predict the future is to invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/don-t-worry-about-what-anybody-else-is-going-to-do-the-best-way-to/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The best way to predict the future is to invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Steve Jobs: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/steve-jobs-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it-alan-kay/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [You can't really predict the future. All you can do is invent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/you-can-t-really-predict-the-future-all-you-can-do-is-invent-it/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [I just want to pause for a moment on the word 'invent' because the phrase isn't 'succeed in the future,' it's not 'plan for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-just-want-to-pause-for-a-moment-on-the-word-invent-because-the/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [“The best way to predict the future is to invent it” and “People who are serious about software should make their own hardware.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it-and-people-who-are/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I love the future we might invent for ourselves that I have not yet dreamt of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-love-the-future-we-might-invent-for-ourselves-that-i-have-not-yet/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [To predict the future we would have to know today what we will learn tomorrow which will shape our future actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/to-predict-the-future-we-would-have-to-know-today-what-we-will-learn/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [Who knows how things will be years from now? Only time will tell. No need to try & predict the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-knows-how-things-will-be-years-from-now-only-time-will-tell-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Everybody was going along thinking that it was a day like any other day, and bang, down went the Twin Towers. Changed everything. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/everybody-was-going-along-thinking-that-it-was-a-day-like-any-other/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [It is hard to predict the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/it-is-hard-to-predict-the-future/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) ## More by Satya Nadella > [Microsoft is the productivity and platform company for the mobile-first and cloud-first world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/microsoft-is-the-productivity-and-platform-company-for-the-mobile/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [“The bigger a company, the more responsibility its leader has to think about the world, its citizens and their long term opportunities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-bigger-a-company-the-more-responsibility-its-leader-has-to-think/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [If you are going to have a risk-taking culture, you can't really look at every failure as a failure, you've got to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/if-you-are-going-to-have-a-risk-taking-culture-you-can-t-really-look/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [“anyone who feels like an outsider can be successful, but it requires both an enlightened management and a dedicated employee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/anyone-who-feels-like-an-outsider-can-be-successful-but-it-requires/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [I think the combination of graduate education in a field like Computer Science and the opportunity to apply this in a work environment like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-think-the-combination-of-graduate-education-in-a-field-like/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [There are always going to be people who are experts in security or end-user devices or collaboration or databases. That's not going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/there-are-always-going-to-be-people-who-are-experts-in-security-or/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [We are really excited about being stewards to the community that is Minecraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/we-are-really-excited-about-being-stewards-to-the-community-that-is/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [Businesses and users are going to use technology only if they can trust it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/businesses-and-users-are-going-to-use-technology-only-if-they-can/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly support programs at Microsoft and in the industry that bring more women into technology and close the pay gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/without-a-doubt-i-wholeheartedly-support-programs-at-microsoft-and-in/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [In the post-Snowden world, you need to enable others to build their own cloud and have mobility of applications. That’s both because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/in-the-post-snowden-world-you-need-to-enable-others-to-build-their/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-believe-men-and-women-should-get-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [When we think about even the PC market and what is required in the student as well as in the consumer market, we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/when-we-think-about-even-the-pc-market-and-what-is-required-in-the/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [“Success can cause people to unlearn the habits that made them successful in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/success-can-cause-people-to-unlearn-the-habits-that-made-them/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-opportunity-ahead-for-microsoft-is-vast-but-to-seize-it-we-must/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [“the importance of putting your team first, ahead of your personal statistics and recognition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-importance-of-putting-your-team-first-ahead-of-your-personal/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) [Explore all 185 Satya Nadella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) ## 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": "“Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Satya Nadella" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/satya-nadella-2082_future_alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-t_2414479.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alan Kay quips, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Satya Nadella", "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": "Satya Nadella", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Alan Kay quips, “The best way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/alan-kay-quips-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-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 } } ] } ```