Brideshead revisited Quote by Evelyn Waugh
“We possess nothing certainly except the past”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Decline and Fall, 1928
Only the past is certain, emphasizing the unreliability of future predictions
In simple terms: Past is the only certainty
Key Takeaway
Focus on present realities
Themes
history
uncertainty
philosophy
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- Historical study
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
Temporal perspective
historical analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How does past certainty shape future actions?
- What limits does historical knowledge impose?
A Different Perspective
May ignore present agency
![“I think for Lev [Grossman], C. S. Lewis was a huge inspiration from his childhood. I know that Brideshead Revisited is a book that he's incredibly found of and he took certain structural influences from that book that he brought into The Magicians.” quote by Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab7/hale-appleman-26449_book_i-think-for-lev-grossman-c-s-lewis-was-a_39261.jpg)
