--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time is a train, makes the future the…" description: "\"Time is a train, makes the future the past. Leaves you in the station, your face pressed up against the glass.\" — U2" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/u2-14686_clock_time-is-a-train-makes-the-future-the-pas_3131841.jpg" --- # Time is a train, makes the future the past. Leaves you in… ![“Time is a train, makes the future the past. Leaves you in the station, your face pressed up against the glass.” quote by U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/u2-14686_clock_time-is-a-train-makes-the-future-the-pas_3131841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/u2-14686_clock_time-is-a-train-makes-the-future-the-pas_3131841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/577/u2-14686_clock_time-is-a-train-makes-the-future-the-pas_3131841.jpg) > “Time is a train, makes the future the past. Leaves you in the station, your face pressed up against the glass.” [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is likened to a train that moves forward, leaving the past behind, while we remain observers at the station, yearning. **In simple terms:** Time moves on, we watch from the sidelines. Key Takeaway Embrace the present instead of longing for the past. Themes time impermanence observation Mood nostalgic contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - career planning - relationship dynamics Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What moments do you feel stuck watching time pass? - How can you become an active participant? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex experiences of change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-past/) [Station Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/station-face-5541672/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-train-3235677/) ## Related quotes > [“A man who knows that time and the train wait for no man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/a-man-who-knows-that-time-and-the-train-wait-for-no-man/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I doodle all the time, even if I'm on the train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dascha-polanco/i-doodle-all-the-time-even-if-i-m-on-the-train/) [Dascha Polanco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dascha-polanco/) > [So when will be the time to get on the train? I think…a little bit almost quite very soon and not long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/so-when-will-be-the-time-to-get-on-the-train-i-think-a-little-bit/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“He turned to her and said, “About time,” when the train finally creaked in, with the familiarity strangers adopt with each other after sharing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/he-turned-to-her-and-said-about-time-when-the-train-finally-creaked/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“Night-time train travel is wonderful again! No standing in the corridors for hours, no being shunted off for a troop train to pass, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-shaffer/night-time-train-travel-is-wonderful-again-no-standing-in-the/) [Mary Ann Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-shaffer/) > [My future and past is in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/my-future-and-past-is-in-the-present-moment/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Future is everything that past has forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/future-is-everything-that-past-has-forgotten/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Not letting your past go will not drive your present into the future with you. But simply make him/her another piece of your near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-johnson/not-letting-your-past-go-will-not-drive-your-present-into-the-future/) [Bradley Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-johnson/) > [You can never plan the future by the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/you-can-never-plan-the-future-by-the-past/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [There is no future and there is no past, there never has been, there never will be. You just think there is. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-future-and-there-is-no-past-there-never-has-been-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The future and the past are equally meaningless because they are nebulous entities, times that do not exist, containing events which have no echo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lebbon/the-future-and-the-past-are-equally-meaningless-because-they-are/) [Tim Lebbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lebbon/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [As an actor, I only play what is in the moment, rather than in the future, but sometimes the past is more important than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/as-an-actor-i-only-play-what-is-in-the-moment-rather-than-in-the/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [When the uncertain future becomes the past, the past in turn becomes uncertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/when-the-uncertain-future-becomes-the-past-the-past-in-turn-becomes/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) ## More by U2 > [I'm here without a name, in the palace of my shame. Said love rescue me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/i-m-here-without-a-name-in-the-palace-of-my-shame-said-love-rescue-me/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Raining in your heart, raining in your heart, to the sea. Oh great ocean, oh great sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/raining-in-your-heart-raining-in-your-heart-to-the-sea-oh-great-ocean/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Of science and the human heart, there is no limit. There is no failure here sweetheart, just when you quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/of-science-and-the-human-heart-there-is-no-limit-there-is-no-failure/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [“No one is blinder than he who will not see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/no-one-is-blinder-than-he-who-will-not-see/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [You glorify the past when the future dries up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/you-glorify-the-past-when-the-future-dries-up/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Love is blindness, I don't want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/love-is-blindness-i-don-t-want-to-see/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Grace makes beauty out of ugly things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/grace-makes-beauty-out-of-ugly-things/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Waves of regret, waves of joy, I reached out for the me I tried to destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/waves-of-regret-waves-of-joy-i-reached-out-for-the-me-i-tried-to/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [“Heaven on Earth, we need it now I'm sick of all of this hanging around Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain I'm sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/heaven-on-earth-we-need-it-now-i-m-sick-of-all-of-this-hanging-around/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [And you can dream, so dream out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/and-you-can-dream-so-dream-out-loud/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Looking in the places where no flowers grow, looking to fill that God shaped hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/looking-in-the-places-where-no-flowers-grow-looking-to-fill-that-god/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Got diamond eyes, she sees the truth behind the lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/got-diamond-eyes-she-sees-the-truth-behind-the-lies/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [It's the blind leading the blond, it's the cops collecting for cons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/it-s-the-blind-leading-the-blond-it-s-the-cops-collecting-for-cons/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [Their lives are bigger than any big idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/their-lives-are-bigger-than-any-big-idea/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) > [“You can dream, so dream out loud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u2/you-can-dream-so-dream-out-loud/) [U2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) [Explore all 45 U2 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u2/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) [Levi Keely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-keely/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time is a train, makes the future the past. 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