--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're always looking roughly 30 years…" description: "\"We're always looking roughly 30 years behind us. In the '80s they were obsessed with the '50s and so on.\" — Brian K. Vaughan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/brian-k-vaughan-2421_80s_we-re-always-looking-roughly-30-years-be_572513.png" --- # We're always looking roughly 30 years behind us. In the… ![“We're always looking roughly 30 years behind us. In the '80s they were obsessed with the '50s and so on.” quote by Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/brian-k-vaughan-2421_80s_we-re-always-looking-roughly-30-years-be_572513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/brian-k-vaughan-2421_80s_we-re-always-looking-roughly-30-years-be_572513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/brian-k-vaughan-2421_80s_we-re-always-looking-roughly-30-years-be_572513.png) > “We're always looking roughly 30 years behind us. In the '80s they were obsessed with the '50s and so on.” [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to romanticize past eras, overlooking present possibilities. **In simple terms:** We look backward instead of focusing on the future. Key Takeaway Balance nostalgia with forward‑thinking. Themes nostalgia historical perspective culture Mood nostalgic critical Type cultural observational When to use this quote - fashion trends - music revival - historical analysis - future planning Key Concepts media studies collective memory Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to past aesthetics? - How can we honor history while embracing new ideas? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on the past can hinder innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I love the '80s. I'm obsessed with it. I love the hair and the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bobby-brown/i-love-the-80s-i-m-obsessed-with-it-i-love-the-hair-and-the-people/) [Millie Bobby Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bobby-brown/) > [I grew up doing all that stuff because I was obsessed with the '50s. I had sock hops for birthday parties. So I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-grew-up-doing-all-that-stuff-because-i-was-obsessed-with-the-50s-i/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [It's just people who grew up in that time are suddenly old enough to be creators themselves, but I think they have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/it-s-just-people-who-grew-up-in-that-time-are-suddenly-old-enough-to/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [We're not trying to be deliberately frustrating, but we are laying the tracks for a mystery, and it's one that we have all figured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/we-re-not-trying-to-be-deliberately-frustrating-but-we-are-laying-the/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [It was interesting looking back at the '80s and trying to find newspaper headlines from the time - the cliché of history repeating itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/it-was-interesting-looking-back-at-the-80s-and-trying-to-find/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [There's just something about that late '80s that suddenly feels like it has something to teach us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/there-s-just-something-about-that-late-80s-that-suddenly-feels-like/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“I’ve been here 30 years and I still smile on a sunday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-been-here-30-years-and-i-still-smile-on-a-sunday/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-don-t-really-know-who-i-am-as-an-actor-the-best-thing-would-be-to/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I've loved art for more than 30 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/i-ve-loved-art-for-more-than-30-years/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [It wasn't that I ever knew I'd be at the Met for 20 years, or 30 years, or 40 years, or anything like that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-levine/it-wasn-t-that-i-ever-knew-i-d-be-at-the-met-for-20-years-or-30-years/) [James Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-levine/) > [God has been kind, people have given me a household name. Even after 30 years, they think I am Duryodhana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puneet-issar/god-has-been-kind-people-have-given-me-a-household-name-even-after-30/) [Puneet Issar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puneet-issar/) > [Hillary Clinton's been around for 30 years. Why do these stories need to be told? It isn't all of this widely known?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/hillary-clinton-s-been-around-for-30-years-why-do-these-stories-need/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Postal service of today is far removed from that of 30 years ago when reform was last enacted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-mchugh/postal-service-of-today-is-far-removed-from-that-of-30-years-ago-when/) [John M. McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-mchugh/) > [If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-have-always-believed-that-everyone-should-play-by-the-same/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Still, my argument was that if she was going to work for the next 30 years, what difference does "going back" 4 years really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/still-my-argument-was-that-if-she-was-going-to-work-for-the-next-30/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) ## More by Brian K. Vaughan > [“By the time they're out of preschool, most children have already seen thousands of acts of violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/by-the-time-they-re-out-of-preschool-most-children-have-already-seen/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I'm really happiest living life 22 pages at a time and putting things in little boxes on pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-m-really-happiest-living-life-22-pages-at-a-time-and-putting-things/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [You'd never be able to convince someone to give you money to do a bilingual story where you're not translating half of it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/you-d-never-be-able-to-convince-someone-to-give-you-money-to-do-a/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“I´ve held you in my heart since the day you left me. But you´re too heavy to carry another step. And I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-ve-held-you-in-my-heart-since-the-day-you-left-me-but-you-re-too/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Every issue, the characters and I duke it out. They usually win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/every-issue-the-characters-and-i-duke-it-out-they-usually-win/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [ I love that the book \[Paper Girls \] gets to kind of evolve and change in each era. Our third storyline is our best… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-love-that-the-book-paper-girls-gets-to-kind-of-evolve-and-change-in/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I know I'm a grumpy old man, but I'm always more delighted by readers talking about the actual comics than people talking about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-know-i-m-a-grumpy-old-man-but-i-m-always-more-delighted-by-readers/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I'm still digesting the '90s. It takes some time to get perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-m-still-digesting-the-90s-it-takes-some-time-to-get-perspective/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Ask a child's guardians what it takes to be good at their jobs, and most will answer with a single word... SACRIFICE. Parents give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/ask-a-child-s-guardians-what-it-takes-to-be-good-at-their-jobs-and/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I think some people are just very passionate that things remain the way they were when they were kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-think-some-people-are-just-very-passionate-that-things-remain-the/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Fuck the Bureau! Their entire outfit is half the size of the NYPD. I've got more officers who speak Arabic in one precinct that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/fuck-the-bureau-their-entire-outfit-is-half-the-size-of-the-nypd-i-ve/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [In film, you have the luxury of accomplishing what you need in 24 frames every second. Comics, you only have five or six panels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/in-film-you-have-the-luxury-of-accomplishing-what-you-need-in-24/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Sooner or later, every last echo fades. Even the loudest thunder in the deepest valley.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/sooner-or-later-every-last-echo-fades-even-the-loudest-thunder-in-the/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [There's just something about that late '80s that suddenly feels like it has something to teach us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/there-s-just-something-about-that-late-80s-that-suddenly-feels-like/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Fans of my books have just been supremely nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/fans-of-my-books-have-just-been-supremely-nice/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) [Explore all 166 Brian K. Vaughan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) ## More 80s quotes > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [As an actor I kind of do. I started out doing voice overs in the mid 80s when I was in grad school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/as-an-actor-i-kind-of-do-i-started-out-doing-voice-overs-in-the-mid/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [It's nice to have been around long enough to be a part of people's lives. A lot of people who come to my show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-easton/it-s-nice-to-have-been-around-long-enough-to-be-a-part-of-people-s/) [Sheena Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-easton/) > [ It was a very economically depressed time \[the 80s\] and because of that, there was a lot of space. Everything was relatively dilapidated, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-smith/it-was-a-very-economically-depressed-time-the-80s-and-because-of-that/) [Kiki Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-smith/) > [If for no other reason than it's just fun to watch people age, and it's fun to watch what happened to '80s hairdos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/if-for-no-other-reason-than-it-s-just-fun-to-watch-people-age-and-it/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-don-t-dislike-rappers-or-hip-hop-or-people-who-like-it-i-went-to/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Since I was gay and loved disco music, it was kinda pre-programmed that my first experiences with house music and acid - which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-kohncke/since-i-was-gay-and-loved-disco-music-it-was-kinda-pre-programmed/) Justus Kohncke > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [When I was coming up in the '80s television, if you were on television that meant either you were a young actor just coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-coming-up-in-the-80s-television-if-you-were-on-television/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [My fashion was not the best in the '80s. I looked crazy as hell. I used to wear my pants tucked into my socks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/my-fashion-was-not-the-best-in-the-80s-i-looked-crazy-as-hell-i-used/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [Bin Laden was, though, a product of a monumental miscalculation by western security agencies. Throughout the 80s he was armed by the CIA and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-cook/bin-laden-was-though-a-product-of-a-monumental-miscalculation-by/) [Robin Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-cook/) > [When someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/when-someone-asks-if-you-re-a-god-you-say-yes/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-lumenick/his-lloyd-kaufman-string-of-low-budget-lowbrow-horror-comedies/) Lou Lumenick > [I have this obsession with the '80s because I missed all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-have-this-obsession-with-the-80s-because-i-missed-all-of-it/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [It was the case in the 70s and 80s that people believed music could change the world. But now people aren't making music because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/it-was-the-case-in-the-70s-and-80s-that-people-believed-music-could/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) Browse all 488 80s quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're always looking roughly 30 years behind us. In the '80s they were obsessed with the '50s and so on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian K. 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