conveying the meaning of a quote through type alone

quote representation by colour and typeface:
'tell me the past': to speak of the past we use memory and that fades with time and becomes less distinct - thus the large light grey type in the background representing past diminishing

'the future': an unknown space with infinite possibilities - thus a font that has curves, points, straight, diagonal, circular, thin, fat and slightly abstract in style - black in colour because black is obtained by mixing all the other colours together - black is infinity.

quote representation by position:
'the past' is behind and 'the future' in front
- but also overlapping to represent the recognition that Confucius says we shall find?

'and I will recognise': is an action - to be done - in this moment - not the past or the future.
So it stands separate to the other text - also it is slanted forward (or italics) encouraging momentum to do action.

unity of composition
shades of grey are all that life is, was, or will be.

grid base
determined by first placing the background 'tell me the past'
and all other text positioned in line with these text shapes

focus point
the shape black tight lines of 'the future' text as this is where we are all going - like it or not?