--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our past is not the thing that matters so…" description: "\"Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with the future.\" — Shoghi Effendi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png" --- # Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this… ![“Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with the future.” quote by Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png) > “Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with the future.” [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future actions matter more than past events; intention shapes destiny. **In simple terms:** Intentions guide future impact. Key Takeaway Prioritize purposeful planning. Themes spirituality future intent Mood hopeful determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - community projects - policy making Key Concepts goal setting visionary leadership Questions to Reflect On - What future goals align with your core values? - How can you turn intention into action? A Different Perspective Past experiences still influence present choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Things that matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-that-matter/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn't matter who you were or what you've done in the past. The only thing that matters is who you are right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/it-doesn-t-matter-who-you-were-or-what-you-ve-done-in-the-past-the/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [Don't think of the past; the only thing that matters is the everlasting present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/don-t-think-of-the-past-the-only-thing-that-matters-is-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The thing that matters is meaning! It drives everything. Builders align their attention to the things that matter to them, and they know a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-i-porras/the-thing-that-matters-is-meaning-it-drives-everything-builders-align/) [Jerry I. Porras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-i-porras/) > [The only thing that matters is when the team wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-posada/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-when-the-team-wins/) [Jorge Posada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-posada/) > [The only thing that matters is the choice you are making now--this very instant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-the-choice-you-are-making-now-this/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The only thing that matters is that we stand firm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-himmler/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-we-stand-firm/) [Heinrich Himmler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-himmler/) > [It doesn't matter where you come from, what you have, what you don't have. The only thing that matters is that you set a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrington-irving/it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-come-from-what-you-have-what-you-don-t/) Barrington Irving > [All your horse looks for is the thing that matters most, peace and contentment. Give it to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/all-your-horse-looks-for-is-the-thing-that-matters-most-peace-and/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) > [The only thing that matters is the theater!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-rabe/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-the-theater/) [Lily Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-rabe/) > [Being decent is the only thing that matters in a terrible world like this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/being-decent-is-the-only-thing-that-matters-in-a-terrible-world-like/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [What is the thing that matters most to making progress right now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-costolo/what-is-the-thing-that-matters-most-to-making-progress-right-now/) [Dick Costolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-costolo/) > [Literature doesn't matter! The only thing that matters is money and getting your teeth fixed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/literature-doesn-t-matter-the-only-thing-that-matters-is-money-and/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [The only thing that matters, at the end of a stay on earth, is how well did we love, what was the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-only-thing-that-matters-at-the-end-of-a-stay-on-earth-is-how-well/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [There's only one thing that matters, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael/there-s-only-one-thing-that-matters-customer-satisfaction/) [Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael/) > [When you're in professional sports, winning is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-durocher/when-you-re-in-professional-sports-winning-is-the-only-thing-that/) [Leo Durocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-durocher/) ## More by Shoghi Effendi > [It is not sufficient to pray diligently for guidance, but this prayer must be followed by meditation as to the best methods of action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/it-is-not-sufficient-to-pray-diligently-for-guidance-but-this-prayer/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [The troubles of this world pass, and what we have left is what we have made of our souls, so it is to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/the-troubles-of-this-world-pass-and-what-we-have-left-is-what-we-have/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [Bahá'u'lláh is not the Intermediary between other Manifestations and God. Each has His own relation to the Primal Source. But in the sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/bah-u-ll-h-is-not-the-intermediary-between-other-manifestations-and/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [The time for the destruction of the world and its people hath arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/the-time-for-the-destruction-of-the-world-and-its-people-hath-arrived/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [For what pleasure can compare the pleasure of bringing joy and hope to other hearts. The more we make others happy the greater will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/for-what-pleasure-can-compare-the-pleasure-of-bringing-joy-and-hope/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [We must not only be patient with others, infinitely patient, but also with our own poor selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/we-must-not-only-be-patient-with-others-infinitely-patient-but-also/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/we-cannot-segregate-the-human-heart-from-the-environment-outside-us/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [Love & kindness have far greater influence than punishment upon the improvement of human character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/love-kindness-have-far-greater-influence-than-punishment-upon-the/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [Regarding the passage on p. 163 of the 'Gleanings': The creatures which Bahá'u'lláh states to be found on every planet cannot be considered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/regarding-the-passage-on-p-163-of-the-gleanings-the-creatures-which/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Bahá'u'lláh, implies the establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/the-unity-of-the-human-race-as-envisaged-by-bah-u-ll-h-implies-the/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [“‎"The more we search for ourselves, the less likely we are to find ourselves; and the more we search for God, and to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/the-more-we-search-for-ourselves-the-less-likely-we-are-to-find/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [It is not preaching any rules the world wants, but love and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/it-is-not-preaching-any-rules-the-world-wants-but-love-and-action/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [The troubles of this world pass, and what we have left is what we have made of our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/the-troubles-of-this-world-pass-and-what-we-have-left-is-what-we-have-2/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/we-must-be-like-the-fountain-or-spring-that-is-continually-emptying/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [The more we search for ourselves, the less likely we are to find ourselves; and the more we search for God, and to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/the-more-we-search-for-ourselves-the-less-likely-we-are-to-find-2/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) [Explore all 17 Shoghi Effendi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) ## 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": "Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shoghi Effendi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-so-much-in-this-world-as-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-so-much-in-this-world-as-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/146/shoghi-effendi-30953_future_our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-s_1686678.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with the future.” — Shoghi Effendi", "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": "Shoghi Effendi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our past is not the thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-so-much-in-this-world-as-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/our-past-is-not-the-thing-that-matters-so-much-in-this-world-as-what/#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 } } ] } ```