--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The future can ever promise but one thing…" description: "\"The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing only: surprises.\" — Steven Erikson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg" --- # The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing… ![“The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing only: surprises.” quote by Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg) > “The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing only: surprises.” [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is unpredictable; the only certainty is that unexpected events will occur. **In simple terms:** Surprises are inevitable. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and adapt. Themes uncertainty surprises life adaptability Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal relationships - creative projects Key Concepts probability human experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you prepare for unknowns? - What surprises have shaped you? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on unpredictability can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprises/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The thing that surprises me most is, you cannot change who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-probst/the-thing-that-surprises-me-most-is-you-cannot-change-who-you-are/) [Jeff Probst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-probst/) > [“The body's a funny thing. It's so full of surprises that it makes conventional wisdom seem silly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/the-body-s-a-funny-thing-it-s-so-full-of-surprises-that-it-makes/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“For the future, please promise me you will not make any life-altering oaths in order to influence my love life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rowe/for-the-future-please-promise-me-you-will-not-make-any-life-altering/) [Andrew Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rowe/) > [“I looked at her and saw everything. I saw my past with all its pain, I saw my present with all its joy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannine-allison/i-looked-at-her-and-saw-everything-i-saw-my-past-with-all-its-pain-i/) [Jeannine Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannine-allison/) > [The future promise of any nation can be directly measured by the present prospects of its youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-future-promise-of-any-nation-can-be-directly-measured-by-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Pain of the past never goes away, you just find a way to deal with it. 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Because this is how life is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/a-story-to-me-means-a-plot-where-there-is-some-surprise-because-this/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [there are times when life surprises one, and anything may happen, even what one had hoped for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/there-are-times-when-life-surprises-one-and-anything-may-happen-even/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Bibles laid open, millions of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/bibles-laid-open-millions-of-surprises/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Life is full of surprises, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/life-is-full-of-surprises-isn-t-it/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [History is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/history-is-full-of-surprises/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Steven Erikson > [“No matter, they weren’t going anywhere. Never again. Two skeletons buried beneath a dead city. No more fitting a barrow for a warrior of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/no-matter-they-weren-t-going-anywhere-never-again-two-skeletons/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I was reminded ... the way that wood crumbles into dissolution.’ ‘The release of energy. Perhaps a better way of seeing it.’ ‘Such release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-reminded-the-way-that-wood-crumbles-into-dissolution-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I am here to arrest your manservant. 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What a stupid question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/why-do-i-hate-spiders-gods-who-doesn-t-what-a-stupid-question/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [It is an extraordinary act of courage,' said Tulas Shorn, 'to come to know a stranger's pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/it-is-an-extraordinary-act-of-courage-said-tulas-shorn-to-come-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I admit,’ said Spite, ‘to a certain melancholy when visiting vibrant cities, as is this Darujhistan. A long life teaches one just how ephemeral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-admit-said-spite-to-a-certain-melancholy-when-visiting-vibrant/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“People who make up their minds about something never listen to advice - especially when it's to the contrary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-who-make-up-their-minds-about-something-never-listen-to-advice/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) [Explore all 452 Steven Erikson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## 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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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": "The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing only: surprises.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Erikson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thing-and-one-thing-only-surprises/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thing-and-one-thing-only-surprises/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/steven-erikson-588_future_the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thin_225615.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The future can ever promise but one thing and one thing only: surprises.” — Steven Erikson", "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": "Steven Erikson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The future can ever promise but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thing-and-one-thing-only-surprises/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-future-can-ever-promise-but-one-thing-and-one-thing-only-surprises/#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 } } ] } ```