"The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be"

The observation by Paul Valery encapsulates a profound sense of disorientation in the modern relationship with the future. Once, people imagined the future as a continuation or even an improvement of the present, a progression along a clear, predictable path. Expectations were generally shaped by traditions, customary optimism, and the relatively stable pace of technological, cultural, and social change. Even when the future contained uncertainties, it remained within the boundaries of what could be reasonably anticipated.

However, Valery highlights a decisive break from this mindset, a turning point when the anticipated future becomes unrecognizable, filled with unprecedented challenges and possibilities. The phrase reflects a collective anxiety brought on by the rapid transformations of the 20th century, a time marked by world wars, rapid technological advancement, shifting moral and cultural norms, and the increasing complexity and unpredictability of global affairs. The systems of belief, knowledge, and narrative that used to shape confidence in tomorrow no longer provide the same reassurance.

As society confronts disruptively fast innovation, environmental crises, political upheaval, and the breakdown of familiar social structures, the “future” as a reliable continuation falters. Instead, it feels unstable, even threatening. The dreams and promises that once fueled hope, for progress, peace, or prosperity, are now entangled with fear, doubt, and uncertainty. The future, once envisioned as an extension of collective ambition and continuity, is increasingly shaped by discontinuity, rupture, and radical change.

Valery’s remark signals not just disillusionment but also a call for new ways of thinking. It challenges individuals and societies to adapt, forging different relationships with time, uncertainty, and possibility. Rather than seeking comfort in the expectation that tomorrow will be like yesterday, it nudges humanity to reconsider its assumptions, adapt imaginatively, and confront the unknown with resilience and creativity.