This is actually a very important principle that science is

Kevin Kelly once spoke with the wisdom of one who gazes far across horizons: “This is actually a very important principle that science is learning about large systems like evolution and that futurists are learning about anticipating human society: just because a future scenario is plausible doesn’t mean we can get there from here.” These words are both a warning and a guide, reminding us that while the mind may imagine countless possibilities, not all paths are open, and not all destinies are within reach.

When he invokes science and evolution, Kelly points to the greatest teacher of all: the natural world. Evolution has given rise to forms wondrous and strange, yet never at random—always within the bounds of what is possible from the present state. Wings may evolve from arms, but never from stone. Whales return to the sea from land, but they do not sprout feathers to fly the skies. Nature teaches us that even though many futures can be imagined, only some can be reached, for every new form must grow from what already exists. This is the deep principle Kelly urges us to heed.

The same truth applies to human society. The futurist may imagine glittering cities in the clouds or peaceful worlds without conflict, yet imagination alone cannot build them. The journey to the future is bound by the roads of the present: our culture, our technology, our values, our habits. A society cannot leap from tyranny to harmony in a single bound; it must pass through struggle, reform, and transformation. The plausible dream is not always the possible path. Wisdom lies in discerning not only what could be, but what can actually be reached from where we stand.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider the French Revolution, born of noble dreams—liberty, equality, fraternity. These ideals were plausible, beautiful, even necessary. Yet the road from monarchy to democracy was not straight. It wound through bloodshed, terror, and empire before a more stable form of freedom could take root. The dream was real, but the path to reach it from the old order was long and treacherous. Kelly’s words echo here: it is not enough that a vision be plausible; one must ask, can we get there from here?

There is great humility in this insight. Too often, people believe that if something can be imagined, it can be achieved with enough will. But the wise know that time, context, and foundation matter. A seed cannot bear fruit in barren soil, no matter how rich the seed itself. Likewise, societies and individuals must recognize the constraints of their present conditions. To dream is essential, but to chart the journey from present to future requires patience, planning, and respect for the forces that shape the path.

The lesson for us is clear: in our own lives, in our work, in our communities, we must not only dream of what is desirable, but also consider the steps that lead from here to there. Ask not only, “Is this goal good?” but also, “Is this path possible?” When you plan a change, whether small or great, remember Kelly’s wisdom: plausibility is not destiny. Build your bridge carefully, stone by stone, and the future will be reached not by wishing, but by walking.

So let these words be a guiding fire: honor your dreams, but temper them with truth. Seek futures that are not only shining in imagination but also reachable from your present ground. In doing so, you will walk not in illusion, but in wisdom. For as Kevin Kelly teaches, the future is not a gift handed to us—it is a road we must build, step by step, from where we stand today. And only those who discern the true path shall reach the destiny they envision.