--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We want to believe that there were better…" description: "\"“We want to believe that there were better men once. That makes us think it could be that way again. But people don't change. They are corrupt now.They..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/brandon-sanderson-112_people-don-t-change_we-want-to-believe-that-there-were-bette_1767718.jpg" --- # We want to believe that there were better men once. That… ![“We want to believe that there were better men once. That makes us think it could be that way again. But people don't change. They are corrupt now.They were corrupt then.” quote by Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/brandon-sanderson-112_people-don-t-change_we-want-to-believe-that-there-were-bette_1767718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/brandon-sanderson-112_people-don-t-change_we-want-to-believe-that-there-were-bette_1767718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/brandon-sanderson-112_people-don-t-change_we-want-to-believe-that-there-were-bette_1767718.jpg) > ““We want to believe that there were better men once. That makes us think it could be that way again. But people don't change. They are corrupt now.They were corrupt then.”” [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects a cynical view that humanity's moral decline is constant, suggesting nostalgia for a past that never truly existed. **In simple terms:** People think the past was better, but corruption persists. Key Takeaway Questionbrace realistic optimism. Themes cynicism nostalgia human nature Mood skeptical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - personal reflection - historical analysis Key Concepts Moral decay historical idealization Questions to Reflect On - Can we find examples of genuine moral improvement? - How does nostalgia affect our actions? A Different Perspective It overlooks individuals who do change positively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-better/) [Better Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-men/) [Change Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-corrupt-1750259/) [Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupt/) [Corrupt Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupt-corrupt-1750260/) [People don't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-don-t-change/) ## Related quotes > [Washington is corrupt and corrupt on both sides of the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-searcy/washington-is-corrupt-and-corrupt-on-both-sides-of-the-aisle/) [Nick Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-searcy/) > [“When it comes to politicians, the question is not ‘Are they corrupt?’, but rather ‘How corrupt are they?’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-it-comes-to-politicians-the-question-is-not-are-they-corrupt-but/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Become corrupt, corrupt, and you will cease to suffer!" 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