--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A world of \"if\"s, but it would make no…" description: "\"A world of \"if\"s, but it would make no difference. If I could go back in time... but I couldn't. The past was behind me. The best thing now would be to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/darren-shan-1943_back-in-time_a-world-of-if-s-but-it-would-make-no-dif_2811439.jpg" --- # A world of "if"s, but it would make no difference. If I… ![“A world of "if"s, but it would make no difference. If I could go back in time... but I couldn't. The past was behind me. The best thing now would be to stop looking over my shoulder. It was time to forget the past and look to the present and future.” quote by Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/darren-shan-1943_back-in-time_a-world-of-if-s-but-it-would-make-no-dif_2811439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/darren-shan-1943_back-in-time_a-world-of-if-s-but-it-would-make-no-dif_2811439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/darren-shan-1943_back-in-time_a-world-of-if-s-but-it-would-make-no-dif_2811439.jpg) > “A world of "if"s, but it would make no difference. If I could go back in time... but I couldn't. The past was behind me. The best thing now would be to stop looking over my shoulder. It was time to forget the past and look to the present and future.” [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on regret and the futility of dwelling on the past, urging focus on present and future. **In simple terms:** Stop looking back; live in present. Key Takeaway Let go of past regrets. Themes mindfulness growth time Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy - journaling - goal setting - meditation Key Concepts regret present focus future planning Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you release past burdens? - How can you stay present daily? A Different Perspective Past cannot be changed, causing frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Forget the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget-the-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Present and future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-and-future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [But if I could go back in time, I wouldn't do a single thing differently. What if all those things I did were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/but-if-i-could-go-back-in-time-i-wouldn-t-do-a-single-thing/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [If I could go back in time and see any band, It would be Link Wray and the Raymen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/if-i-could-go-back-in-time-and-see-any-band-it-would-be-link-wray-and/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [In terms of effect on the world, it's very good that I've lived. And so I guess, if I could go back in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/in-terms-of-effect-on-the-world-it-s-very-good-that-i-ve-lived-and-so/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [What's amazing to me now is that I actually recall fixating on the fact that my thighs a-l-m-o-s-t touched at the top…If I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-renfroe/what-s-amazing-to-me-now-is-that-i-actually-recall-fixating-on-the/) [Anita Renfroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-renfroe/) > [If I could go back in time to change stuff? Oh yeah, there's a few movies I would not have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-thomas-howell/if-i-could-go-back-in-time-to-change-stuff-oh-yeah-there-s-a-few/) [C. Thomas Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-thomas-howell/) > [It's one of those things, when you look back on it, you'd go, "Oh, I could've done without that. If I could go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/it-s-one-of-those-things-when-you-look-back-on-it-you-d-go-oh-i-could/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [Go back. Go back in time. Everyone's life is a chain of memories. In each chain there are shining links, happenings where this element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-back-go-back-in-time-everyone-s-life-is-a-chain-of-memories-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am not the man I once was. I do not want to go back in time, to be the second son, the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasco-da-gama/i-am-not-the-man-i-once-was-i-do-not-want-to-go-back-in-time-to-be/) Vasco da Gama > [ For Bryan \[Cranston \] to go back in time and become this larger-than-life and somewhat theatrical guy, who performed his ideas and rhetoric in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/for-bryan-cranston-to-go-back-in-time-and-become-this-larger-than/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [If you go back in time you'll find tribes that were essentially only concerned with their own tribal members. If you were a member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/if-you-go-back-in-time-you-ll-find-tribes-that-were-essentially-only/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I wouldn't change a thing in my own life, but I'd like to go back in time anyway though, just to some eras that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-in-my-own-life-but-i-d-like-to-go-back-in/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I used to think that I wouldn't change anything from my past, because doing so would inevitably affect who I am now. But considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-used-to-think-that-i-wouldn-t-change-anything-from-my-past-because/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [I measure success in terms of the connection with the audience, which we've been able to do in spades. I mean, it's very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-freston/i-measure-success-in-terms-of-the-connection-with-the-audience-which/) [Tom Freston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-freston/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) ## More by Darren Shan > [“But knowing me the way I do (now that sounds weird!),”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/but-knowing-me-the-way-i-do-now-that-sounds-weird/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“I know the names of every intelligent being, the spots on the wings of every butterfly that broke out of a cocoon, the genetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/i-know-the-names-of-every-intelligent-being-the-spots-on-the-wings-of/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“If mankind's destined to bite the bullet, let's bite it and be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-mankind-s-destined-to-bite-the-bullet-let-s-bite-it-and-be-damned/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“Mr. Crepsley was every bit as composed as he'd sworn he would be. He didn't even shed a tear when the funeral litter was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/mr-crepsley-was-every-bit-as-composed-as-he-d-sworn-he-would-be-he/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“Normal people don’t know how lucky—how blessed—they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/normal-people-don-t-know-how-lucky-how-blessed-they-are/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [The demons were scary, but girls - Well, girls are really terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/the-demons-were-scary-but-girls-well-girls-are-really-terrifying/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [For an hour or more he was neither human nor vampire, just a howling, hungry creature of dark delights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/for-an-hour-or-more-he-was-neither-human-nor-vampire-just-a-howling/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“I will not make you a vampire," Mr. Crepsley insisted. "You must forget about it. Go home and get on with your life." "No!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/i-will-not-make-you-a-vampire-mr-crepsley-insisted-you-must-forget/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [To be a druid is to embrace death, dance with it a while, and finally fall prey to it. That is why we'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/to-be-a-druid-is-to-embrace-death-dance-with-it-a-while-and-finally/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [Your spikes have gone floppy,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/your-spikes-have-gone-floppy/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“I'm hungry," he whimpered instead. "Food is on its way." "No," he said. "The other kind of hunger." P198”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/i-m-hungry-he-whimpered-instead-food-is-on-its-way-no-he-said-the/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [“People need devils and dark gods, if only to give them a foe to rally against, an obstacle to overcome. Your people understood that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/people-need-devils-and-dark-gods-if-only-to-give-them-a-foe-to-rally/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [But I don't think Art's an Einstein - he likes tugging ears, biting people and burping too much to be a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/but-i-don-t-think-art-s-an-einstein-he-likes-tugging-ears-biting/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [If he turned his back on humanity now, it would be forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-he-turned-his-back-on-humanity-now-it-would-be-forever/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [...The pain didn't bother me. In fact, I welcome it: It meant I was alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/the-pain-didn-t-bother-me-in-fact-i-welcome-it-it-meant-i-was-alive/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) [Explore all 188 Darren Shan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) ## More Back in time quotes > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/traveling-is-all-very-well-if-you-can-get-home-at-night-i-would-be/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [I measure success in terms of the connection with the audience, which we've been able to do in spades. I mean, it's very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-freston/i-measure-success-in-terms-of-the-connection-with-the-audience-which/) [Tom Freston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-freston/) > [If you could travel back in time to the present moment, what would you do differently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/if-you-could-travel-back-in-time-to-the-present-moment-what-would-you/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [I used to think that I wouldn't change anything from my past, because doing so would inevitably affect who I am now. But considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-used-to-think-that-i-wouldn-t-change-anything-from-my-past-because/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [If I would do another 'Terminator' movie I would have Terminator travel back in time and tell Arnold not to have a special election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-would-do-another-terminator-movie-i-would-have-terminator-travel/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I wouldn't change a thing in my own life, but I'd like to go back in time anyway though, just to some eras that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-in-my-own-life-but-i-d-like-to-go-back-in/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [It's one of those things, when you look back on it, you'd go, "Oh, I could've done without that. If I could go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/it-s-one-of-those-things-when-you-look-back-on-it-you-d-go-oh-i-could/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [If you go back in time you'll find tribes that were essentially only concerned with their own tribal members. If you were a member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/if-you-go-back-in-time-you-ll-find-tribes-that-were-essentially-only/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [ For Bryan \[Cranston \] to go back in time and become this larger-than-life and somewhat theatrical guy, who performed his ideas and rhetoric in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/for-bryan-cranston-to-go-back-in-time-and-become-this-larger-than/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [I am not the man I once was. I do not want to go back in time, to be the second son, the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasco-da-gama/i-am-not-the-man-i-once-was-i-do-not-want-to-go-back-in-time-to-be/) Vasco da Gama > [I work for three or four hours a day, in the late morning and early afternoon. Then I go out for a walk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/i-work-for-three-or-four-hours-a-day-in-the-late-morning-and-early/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [Imagine the wheel of time turning in a seemingly endless round, revealing that the beginning is the end of another beginning. This is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-cousineau/imagine-the-wheel-of-time-turning-in-a-seemingly-endless-round/) [Phil Cousineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-cousineau/) > [Go back. Go back in time. Everyone's life is a chain of memories. In each chain there are shining links, happenings where this element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-back-go-back-in-time-everyone-s-life-is-a-chain-of-memories-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 112 Back in time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A world of \"if\"s, but it would make no difference. If I could go back in time... but I couldn't. The past was behind me. The best thing now would be to stop looking over my shoulder. 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