--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is bad enough to know the past; it…" description: "\"It is bad enough to know the past; it would be intolerable to know the future.\" — W. Somerset Maugham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/w-somerset-maugham-237_enough_it-is-bad-enough-to-know-the-past-it-wou_1508827.jpg" --- # It is bad enough to know the past; it would be intolerable… ![“It is bad enough to know the past; it would be intolerable to know the future.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/w-somerset-maugham-237_enough_it-is-bad-enough-to-know-the-past-it-wou_1508827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/w-somerset-maugham-237_enough_it-is-bad-enough-to-know-the-past-it-wou_1508827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/w-somerset-maugham-237_enough_it-is-bad-enough-to-know-the-past-it-wou_1508827.jpg) > “It is bad enough to know the past; it would be intolerable to know the future.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing the past is painful; knowing the future would be unbearable. **In simple terms:** Past hurts, future knowledge would be overwhelming. Key Takeaway Live in the present, accept uncertainty. Themes philosophy time human limitation Mood thoughtful philosophical Type existential literary When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - stress management - mindfulness practice Key Concepts epistemology existential dread temporal awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty shape personal growth? - Can embracing the unknown improve resilience? A Different Perspective Some argue that limited foresight can hinder planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-know-956538/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Intolerable Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerable-know-5349437/) [Know Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-future/) [Know Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-past/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Intolerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-intolerable-5548967/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [It can be of no practical use to know that Pi is irrational, but if we can know, it surely would be intolerable not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-charles-titchmarsh/it-can-be-of-no-practical-use-to-know-that-pi-is-irrational-but-if-we/) [Edward Charles Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-charles-titchmarsh/) > [At each point in our lives, we are at a crossroads. 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