You cannot fight against the future. Time is on our side.

In the words of William E. Gladstone, "You cannot fight against the future. Time is on our side," we are confronted with the undeniable reality that time and the future are forces beyond our control. Gladstone’s wisdom speaks to the futility of resisting the inevitable march of time, a truth as old as the human condition itself. For while we may wish to hold on to the past, or delay the changes that come with the future, we are powerless against the relentless advance of time. Just as the ancients knew, the future is unavoidable, and it is only through embracing it that we can find our path forward.

This timeless truth has echoed through the teachings of the Stoics, who held that the future is not something to be feared, but something to be accepted. Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, spoke often of our ability to control our reactions, but how little we can control the events and circumstances of the future. The future, in his view, is like the river that flows ever onward—it cannot be stopped or reversed. The best we can do is to prepare ourselves for it, cultivating virtue and wisdom so that we can face whatever it brings with strength and composure. Gladstone’s statement aligns with this Stoic wisdom: the future is coming, and time is on our side because it allows us to grow, to change, and to adapt in ways that the past could never have provided.

Consider the example of Alexander the Great, whose path to immortality was shaped by his ability to embrace the future and seize the opportunities it presented. Alexander, at the age of just 20, became king and began his conquests, advancing into unknown territories with unmatched speed. His success was not merely because of his military brilliance, but because he understood the power of time—he recognized that the future was an open field, full of challenges and opportunities, but one that required a willingness to move forward without hesitation. Just as Gladstone says, time was on Alexander's side—he understood that the future held endless possibilities, but only for those who dared to step into it.

The lesson of time is also seen in the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who, though faced with overwhelming odds, refused to fight against the future of an independent India. He understood that the forces of change—time, public sentiment, and historical movements—were on his side. His commitment to non-violent resistance and his belief in the inevitability of India’s independence required him to trust in the course of time. By aligning himself with the future, and not resisting the shifts in the world around him, Gandhi created a movement that was unstoppable, even in the face of colonial oppression. Just as Gladstone stated, the future was not something to fight but something to embrace, for it would, in time, reward those who prepared for it with wisdom and courage.

In contrast, we also see in history the failure of those who sought to fight against the future. The Roman Empire, in its later years, faced internal decay and resistance to the inevitable transformations that history demanded. The emperors and senators clung to an outdated system, unable or unwilling to adapt to the changes of the world around them. By fighting against the future, the Roman Empire ultimately fell, unable to reconcile its past glories with the demands of a new era. This failure to recognize that time and the future were forces that must be embraced, rather than resisted, led to its downfall.

Gladstone’s words remind us that time is the most powerful force we possess. It is not a force to be resisted, but one to be used wisely. The future, with all its uncertainties, should not be feared, but embraced as a field of opportunity. Just as the ancients and great leaders understood, the key to overcoming life’s challenges is to recognize the inevitability of time’s forward march and to use that knowledge to prepare for what lies ahead. The future is not a mystery to fight but a path to walk with courage and wisdom.

In practical terms, we can take this lesson by learning to accept change and adapt to the flow of time. Whether in our careers, relationships, or personal growth, we must learn to move forward with intent and purpose, trusting that the future holds possibilities that the present cannot fully predict. Like Alexander, Gandhi, and the Stoics, we must embrace the inevitable, using time to our advantage rather than resisting it. The future is ours to shape, but only if we understand that it is time’s hand that guides us forward. Let us not fight against time, but join with it, walking into the unknown with the strength, vision, and courage of those who have learned that time is not the enemy, but the greatest ally we possess.