--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The future is all possibilities, but the…" description: "\"“The future is all possibilities, but the past is set in stone. All those ghosts of ourselves, our youth, still alive inside us, but out of our reach f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/wendy-mass-2733_dreams_the-future-is-all-possibilities-but-the_794735.jpg" --- # The future is all possibilities, but the past is set in… ![“The future is all possibilities, but the past is set in stone. All those ghosts of ourselves, our youth, still alive inside us, but out of our reach forever. We meet them when we close our eyes, when we let our memories come alive. But that’s all they are. Memories. No more real than a dream.” quote by Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/wendy-mass-2733_dreams_the-future-is-all-possibilities-but-the_794735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/wendy-mass-2733_dreams_the-future-is-all-possibilities-but-the_794735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/wendy-mass-2733_dreams_the-future-is-all-possibilities-but-the_794735.jpg) > ““The future is all possibilities, but the past is set in stone. All those ghosts of ourselves, our youth, still alive inside us, but out of our reach forever. We meet them when we close our eyes, when we let our memories come alive. But that’s all they are. Memories. No more real than a dream.”” [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts the fluid, open nature of the future with the fixed, unchangeable past, describing memories as ghostly but intangible remnants that feel real only when recalled. **In simple terms:** Future is open, past is fixed; memories are like dreams. Key Takeaway Accept the past, focus on shaping the future. Themes memory time identity reflection nostalgia Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - therapy - mindfulness Key Concepts philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate memory from imagination? - What role should the past play in your decisions? A Different Perspective Memories can distort reality and hinder present action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Things change. People change. You make some choices you can never take back...The future is all possibilities, but the past is set in stone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/things-change-people-change-you-make-some-choices-you-can-never-take/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“...the reality of the days washed away the possibilities of the past, and time moved on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reality-of-the-days-washed-away-the-possibilities-of-the-past-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Memories, real and irreplaceable, all of them. The happy ones, the bitter ones, the terrified and the poignant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-howard/memories-real-and-irreplaceable-all-of-them-the-happy-ones-the-bitter/) [A.G. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-howard/) > [“He looks at me now. “Anyway, I want you to be careful, Meda. Careful you don’t wake up one day, an old fool with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-crewe/he-looks-at-me-now-anyway-i-want-you-to-be-careful-meda-careful-you/) [Eliza Crewe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-crewe/) > [I suppose at some point, we all have to decide which memories - real or otherwise - to hold on to, and which ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/i-suppose-at-some-point-we-all-have-to-decide-which-memories-real-or/) [Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/) > [“We are addicted to experience and take memories as real. In reality, what is remembered is never real. The real is Now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-yardi/we-are-addicted-to-experience-and-take-memories-as-real-in-reality/) Harsha Yardi > [“I'm not worried about the future as much as I'm worried about the past. About keeping my memories real and not sacrificing them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-trope/i-m-not-worried-about-the-future-as-much-as-i-m-worried-about-the/) [Zoe Trope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-trope/) > [It is not fun singing about losing somebody like that, but at the same time it was easy to write because the memories were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gill/it-is-not-fun-singing-about-losing-somebody-like-that-but-at-the-same/) [Vince Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gill/) > [It's sad to see these old buildings go because they have so many memories, and it's a real personal kind of thing when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-clemons/it-s-sad-to-see-these-old-buildings-go-because-they-have-so-many/) [Clarence Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-clemons/) > [“Memories Memories are real life experiences distilled over time into a palatable elixir that one can selectively choose to indulge. Heartbreak and misfortune are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-wood/memories-memories-are-real-life-experiences-distilled-over-time-into/) [Rob Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-wood/) > [And even though it's just acting, it's still an experience. It's almost like these memories are real and they are inside of you -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-morgan/and-even-though-it-s-just-acting-it-s-still-an-experience-it-s-almost/) [Lindsey Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-morgan/) > [Memories are the only real gifts we can leave our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/memories-are-the-only-real-gifts-we-can-leave-our-children/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Of all that I have possessed in my life, my memories are the only things remaining to me. Indeed, I believe that memories are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-jennings/of-all-that-i-have-possessed-in-my-life-my-memories-are-the-only/) [Gary Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-jennings/) > [No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/no-matter-how-much-suffering-you-went-through-you-never-wanted-to-let/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Its hard to let go of the memories youve shared with someone¦ when you remember the tears, youll laugh but when you remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hottiedevil/its-hard-to-let-go-of-the-memories-youve-shared-with-someone-when-you/) HOttieDeviL ## More by Wendy Mass > [“Always keep your eyes open. Don't block your own sunshine. Be filled with wonder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/always-keep-your-eyes-open-don-t-block-your-own-sunshine-be-filled/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [A wise man once remarked that we can count how many seeds are in the apple, but not how many apples are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/a-wise-man-once-remarked-that-we-can-count-how-many-seeds-are-in-the/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [Everything we think we know is really only perceived by our senses,' he explains patiently. 'The sounds we hear are just waves in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/everything-we-think-we-know-is-really-only-perceived-by-our-senses-he/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“If I can’t figure out why I’m here, then I’m just taking up space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/if-i-can-t-figure-out-why-i-m-here-then-i-m-just-taking-up-space/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“I wrote my first poem about a bunny. ‘Bunny, bunny, hop hop hop. White and soft like a little mop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/i-wrote-my-first-poem-about-a-bunny-bunny-bunny-hop-hop-hop-white-and/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“You won’t get what you want, Rory Swenson, until you see what you need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/you-won-t-get-what-you-want-rory-swenson-until-you-see-what-you-need/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“... sometimes grandmothers need to do what they think is best for their grandson and practically adopted granddaughter by opening their eyes to different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/sometimes-grandmothers-need-to-do-what-they-think-is-best-for-their/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [So we stand there, part of a crowd a thousand people strong, beaming up at the sky with wonder. I knew with a sudden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/so-we-stand-there-part-of-a-crowd-a-thousand-people-strong-beaming-up/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [Whoa!" she says as I plow into her. " What are you DOING? Get off me!" I hang on tight. "Can't a girl just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/whoa-she-says-as-i-plow-into-her-what-are-you-doing-get-off-me-i-hang/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [(T)he world is broken up into pieces, and...it's up to everyone to help put it all back together. It's about recognizing the spark of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/t-he-world-is-broken-up-into-pieces-and-it-s-up-to-everyone-to-help/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [LOVE NEVER WAITS BUT SOMETIMES IT OKKAY TO WAIT ON LOVE!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/love-never-waits-but-sometimes-it-okkay-to-wait-on-love/) [WENDY MASS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“Max clapped his hands. “Go, go, go!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/max-clapped-his-hands-go-go-go/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [The meaning of life is to give life a meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-a-meaning/) [wendy mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [A fight is going on inside me," said an old man to his son. "It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/a-fight-is-going-on-inside-me-said-an-old-man-to-his-son-it-is-a/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [“Wisdom is found in the least expected places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/wisdom-is-found-in-the-least-expected-places/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) [Explore all 148 Wendy Mass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The future is all possibilities, but the past is set in stone. All those ghosts of ourselves, our youth, still alive inside us, but out of our reach forever. We meet them when we close our eyes, when we let our memories come alive. But that’s all they are. Memories. 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