--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were…" description: "\"Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like VCRs , and we could 'fast forward' through the crummy times?\" — Charles M. Schulz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/charles-m-schulz-951_being-nice_wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-our-lives-were-li_802394.png" --- # Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like VCRs , and we… ![“Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like VCRs , and we could 'fast forward' through the crummy times?” quote by Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/charles-m-schulz-951_being-nice_wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-our-lives-were-li_802394.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/charles-m-schulz-951_being-nice_wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-our-lives-were-li_802394.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/charles-m-schulz-951_being-nice_wouldn-t-it-be-nice-if-our-lives-were-li_802394.png) > “Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like VCRs , and we could 'fast forward' through the crummy times?” [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagining life as a VCR suggests we could skip unpleasant moments, but reality lacks such controls. **In simple terms:** We wish we could fast‑forward bad times. Key Takeaway Accept the bad, learn from it. Themes desire control optimism Mood wistancholy hopeful Type humorous reflective When to use this quote - personal setbacks - daily stress - mental health coping - relationship conflicts Key Concepts Temporal perception media metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What would you miss if you could skip hardships? - Can you find value in difficult moments? A Different Perspective Skipping pain may prevent growth and resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vcr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vcr/) ## Related quotes > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [By the year 2000, all Americans must be able to set the clocks on their VCRs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/by-the-year-2000-all-americans-must-be-able-to-set-the-clocks-on/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Yeah. When I was in high school I used to do stupid video edits. I would hook-up two VCRs or three VCRs and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lacey/yeah-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-used-to-do-stupid-video-edits-i/) [Jesse Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lacey/) > [We would also go to musicals. So Singing In the Rain, On the Town, and West Side Story. Especially West Side Story because played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-tomei/we-would-also-go-to-musicals-so-singing-in-the-rain-on-the-town-and/) [Marisa Tomei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-tomei/) > [Snoopy (musing on his rooftop): Good Grief! Is it November already? My life is going by too fast. I think someone pushed the "Fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/snoopy-musing-on-his-rooftop-good-grief-is-it-november-already-my/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [“If TiVo had interviewed customers about how they program their VCRs, they might have gotten feedback that drove them to simplify the programming controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-alvarez/if-tivo-had-interviewed-customers-about-how-they-program-their-vcrs/) [Cindy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-alvarez/) > [You had to have two VCRs, and you had to tape everything, and you had to make a choice - you either watch WWF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-archer/you-had-to-have-two-vcrs-and-you-had-to-tape-everything-and-you-had/) [Lance Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-archer/) > [They said VCRs would kill the movies; it didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/they-said-vcrs-would-kill-the-movies-it-didn-t/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [We were probably the last people in the country to get a VCR and we didn't have cable. 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If you're up at the right hour, you can get a VCR for $1.50.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/do-you-know-what-the-good-side-of-crack-is-if-you-re-up-at-the-right/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [But in that moment when my brother took the field, all that washed away, and everyone was proud... I looked up at my dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/but-in-that-moment-when-my-brother-took-the-field-all-that-washed/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [When a mother comes home with her new baby, she will find her abstractions are all concrete now. 'Freedom' now means being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-jackson/when-a-mother-comes-home-with-her-new-baby-she-will-find-her/) [Marni Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-jackson/) > [You might be a redneck if...you bought a VCR so you could tape wrestling while you are at work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-bought-a-vcr-so-you-could-tape/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) ## More by Charles M. Schulz > [Never, ever, ever give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/never-ever-ever-give-up/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Charlie Brown: "Life is just too much for me... I've been confused right from the day I was born... I think the whole trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/charlie-brown-life-is-just-too-much-for-me-i-ve-been-confused-right/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [There's a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/there-s-a-difference-between-a-philosophy-and-a-bumper-sticker/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Nobody likes me!" "I wish I could like you, Charlie Brown, but I can't... If I were to like you, it would be admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/nobody-likes-me-i-wish-i-could-like-you-charlie-brown-but-i-can-t-if/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Life is full of choices, but you never get any!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/life-is-full-of-choices-but-you-never-get-any/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Today is my grandfather's birthday." "How old is he?" "Sixty-three. It's hard to believe he was once a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/today-is-my-grandfather-s-birthday-how-old-is-he-sixty-three-it-s/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [If I were a better artist, I'd be a painter, and if I were a better writer, I'd write books.. but I'm not, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/if-i-were-a-better-artist-i-d-be-a-painter-and-if-i-were-a-better/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [No one would have been invited to dinner so often as Jesus was unless he were interesting and had a sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/no-one-would-have-been-invited-to-dinner-so-often-as-jesus-was-unless/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [You can't write a term paper before breakfast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/you-can-t-write-a-term-paper-before-breakfast/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [I think I'll go over and introduce myself to that little red-haired girl. I think I'll introduce myself, and then ask her to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-think-i-ll-go-over-and-introduce-myself-to-that-little-red-haired/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [The world is filled with unmarried marriage counselors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/the-world-is-filled-with-unmarried-marriage-counselors/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [I wonder if there's such a thing as a spiritual dentist? I think my whole personality is full of cavities!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-wonder-if-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-spiritual-dentist-i-think-my/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Going to our school is an education in itself which is not to be confused with actually getting an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/going-to-our-school-is-an-education-in-itself-which-is-not-to-be/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [“Sometimes I lie awake ay night, and I wonder, "is life like golf or is it more like baseball?" Then a voice comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/sometimes-i-lie-awake-ay-night-and-i-wonder-is-life-like-golf-or-is/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Schroeder, do you think I'm beautiful?" "I think you're the most beautiful girl the world has ever known..." "You hate me, don't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/schroeder-do-you-think-i-m-beautiful-i-think-you-re-the-most/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) [Explore all 320 Charles M. Schulz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) ## More Being nice quotes > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [I think there's a lot of scope in broadening the way videogames approach depictions of masculinity, which is still extremely narrow in scope. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-druckmann/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-scope-in-broadening-the-way-videogames/) Neil Druckmann > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Somewhere where people aren't so mad would be nice, but I don't know if there is anywhere like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/somewhere-where-people-aren-t-so-mad-would-be-nice-but-i-don-t-know/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Most of the people I know who were raised to be accommodating or were raised to just be nice and put everybody's needs ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/most-of-the-people-i-know-who-were-raised-to-be-accommodating-or-were/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“When we are nice to others, we generally lose all claim to their respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/when-we-are-nice-to-others-we-generally-lose-all-claim-to-their/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Being nice from now on, leaving the old BS where it's at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-from-now-on-leaving-the-old-bs-where-it-s-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. I can see that I beg and plead for love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-can-see-that-i-imagine-all-kinds-of-rejection-that-never-happens-i/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [I think music is better listened to with other people. Music is better shared. It depends what situation you're in - if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-think-music-is-better-listened-to-with-other-people-music-is-better/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great. To many people, being nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the-2/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [Give me a mirror.Or holy water. I'll drink it,even!" I gasped as someone threw water on the side of my face. 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King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) [Browse all 659 Being nice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like VCRs , and we could 'fast forward' through the crummy times?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles M. 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