--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if we no longer have much in common…" description: "\"Even if we no longer have much in common, we would have always had the past, which, in some ways, is just as important as the present or future. It is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/emily-giffin-938_common_even-if-we-no-longer-have-much-in-common_640668.png" --- # Even if we no longer have much in common, we would have… ![“Even if we no longer have much in common, we would have always had the past, which, in some ways, is just as important as the present or future. It is where we come from, what makes us who we are.” quote by Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/emily-giffin-938_common_even-if-we-no-longer-have-much-in-common_640668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/emily-giffin-938_common_even-if-we-no-longer-have-much-in-common_640668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/emily-giffin-938_common_even-if-we-no-longer-have-much-in-common_640668.png) > “Even if we no longer have much in common, we would have always had the past, which, in some ways, is just as important as the present or future. It is where we come from, what makes us who we are.” [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our shared history shapes identity and values, even when present differences exist. **In simple terms:** The past defines us despite current differences. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor shared heritage. Themes identity history relationships Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - community events - intergenerational dialogue Key Concepts Cultural continuity self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does your past influence your present choices? - Can shared history bridge current divides? A Different Perspective Past cannot change current conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It is imperative that the past of the pilgrims' progress be intentionally carried forward into the present as we work into our future. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-richard-niebuhr/it-is-imperative-that-the-past-of-the-pilgrims-progress-be/) [H. Richard Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-richard-niebuhr/) > [“Everyone’s past has ways of sneaking up on them. 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For better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/what-we-have-in-life-that-we-can-count-on-is-who-we-are-and-where-we/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/lent-stimulates-us-to-let-the-word-of-god-penetrate-our-life-and-in/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [We all have those dreams of going back in time and seeing what it was like when our parents were younger. Maybe we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/we-all-have-those-dreams-of-going-back-in-time-and-seeing-what-it-was-2/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [Its important to remember that we evolved. Now, I know thats a dirty word for some people, but we evolved from common ancestors with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-leakey/its-important-to-remember-that-we-evolved-now-i-know-thats-a-dirty/) [Louise Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-leakey/) > [Whereas our common past, out of Africa, saw a global diaspora of humankind, our common future depends on a global coming together and consensus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-brown/whereas-our-common-past-out-of-africa-saw-a-global-diaspora-of/) [Bob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-brown/) > [It's important to remember that we evolved. Now, I know that's a dirty word for some people, but we evolved from common ancestors with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-leakey/it-s-important-to-remember-that-we-evolved-now-i-know-that-s-a-dirty/) [Louise Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-leakey/) > [The things we have in common from our past, long past, are often in my mind. 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I wanted a life in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wright/i-did-not-act-in-this-fashion-deliberately-i-did-not-prefer-this-kind/) [Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/) > [What is miraculous about the past is that we have succeeded--God knows how--in making thousands and millions of individual human beings, lock well enought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/what-is-miraculous-about-the-past-is-that-we-have-succeeded-god-knows/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [Hang out with those who have a common FUTURE with you; not a common past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/hang-out-with-those-who-have-a-common-future-with-you-not-a-common/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) ## More by Emily Giffin > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I think exercise is critical to my writing and an essential way to recharge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-think-exercise-is-critical-to-my-writing-and-an-essential-way-to/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Grab his penis like this, and I guarantee, it’s a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/grab-his-penis-like-this-and-i-guarantee-it-s-a-done-deal/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Well, anyway… it’s over,” I say, realizing that those two words lump me right in with a hoard of naive women who say it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/well-anyway-it-s-over-i-say-realizing-that-those-two-words-lump-me/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There are two kinds of sorry. 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Words I haven't uttered in a very, very long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-find-my-voice-and-manage-to-say-those-three-one-syllable-words-back/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [i wish i could freeze this moment, somehow delay my final decision, and just hang here in the balance between two places, two worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-wish-i-could-freeze-this-moment-somehow-delay-my-final-decision-and/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“never had a good gut feeling. 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