Milan Kundera reflects on the misconception that the future serves as the ultimate evaluator of our actions and creations. Initially, he believed that striving for the future was a noble pursuit; however, he later came to view this mindset as a form of conformism. Rather than empowering, it represents a submissive acknowledgment of future authority, surrendering the value of present decisions to an unseen judge.

Kundera emphasizes that while the future will inevitably assess us, it does so without true competence or fairness. This revelation underscores the importance of valuing the present and recognizing that our worth should not solely be defined by the uncertain judgments that lie ahead.