"You might consider, rather, that there are very few absolutes save what has been. That, you can learn from. What may be, here and now or in some future time, is both more and less malleable."

One corner of his lip twists.

"Which is to say there is some value in both, but reading what is to come requires some degree of specialization. I, myself, have the capability to understand what will be by virtue of deduction and rationalization. It's hardly magical, but it serves its purpose."