Quotes by Present Life Cease conceiving of education as mere preparation for later life, and make it the full meaning of the present life. John Dewey present-life mere preparation When we are present, life is also present. Nhat Hanh present-life life-is motivational The Indians used to be the only inhabitants of the Americas, but times change. Having perceived us as belonging to history, they are free to emote over us, to re-create us in their history-based understanding, and dismiss our present lives as archaic and irrelevant to the times. Paula Gunn Allen present-life used understanding