--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People long to go backward in their…" description: "\"People long to go backward in their imagination as well as forward. We don't wish simply to exist forever in some future; we wish to have existed in so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/gloria-whelan-31722_backward_people-long-to-go-backward-in-their-imag_3092509.jpg" --- # People long to go backward in their imagination as well as… ![“People long to go backward in their imagination as well as forward. We don't wish simply to exist forever in some future; we wish to have existed in some distant past.” quote by Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/gloria-whelan-31722_backward_people-long-to-go-backward-in-their-imag_3092509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/gloria-whelan-31722_backward_people-long-to-go-backward-in-their-imag_3092509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/gloria-whelan-31722_backward_people-long-to-go-backward-in-their-imag_3092509.jpg) > “People long to go backward in their imagination as well as forward. We don't wish simply to exist forever in some future; we wish to have existed in some distant past.” [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People imagine both past and future, seeking continuity of existence beyond the present moment. **In simple terms:** We imagine past and future. Key Takeaway Balance nostalgia with future goals. Themes memory future identity Mood nostalgic hopeful Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - personal development - therapy - storytelling Key Concepts temporal perception existential desire Questions to Reflect On - What does longing for the past reveal about you? - How can you honor the past while shaping the future? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on nostalgia may hinder present action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [For the first time in history we can work backward from our imagination rather than forward from our past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/for-the-first-time-in-history-we-can-work-backward-from-our/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [“Now is all you've got.   The past is memory.   The future is wish.   Now is real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tai-sheridan/now-is-all-you-ve-got-the-past-is-memory-the-future-is-wish-now-is/) [Tai Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tai-sheridan/) > [“When I look into my future, what I wish for isn't a job or a title or anything like that. I'm not Mandy, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-o-sullivan/when-i-look-into-my-future-what-i-wish-for-isn-t-a-job-or-a-title-or/) Joanne O'Sullivan > [The past is necessarily inferior to the future. That is how we wish it to be. How could we acknowledge any merit in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-tommaso-marinetti/the-past-is-necessarily-inferior-to-the-future-that-is-how-we-wish-it/) [Filippo Tommaso Marinetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-tommaso-marinetti/) > [“You have all the power you need to build the future that you wish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorve-dubey/you-have-all-the-power-you-need-to-build-the-future-that-you-wish/) [Apoorve Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorve-dubey/) > [The guy thats seems like the love of your life always hurts you but later in the future he will wish he never let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-guy-thats-seems-like-the-love-of-your-life-always-hurts-you-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imagine for a moment your own version of a perfect future. See yourself in that future with everything you could wish for at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/imagine-for-a-moment-your-own-version-of-a-perfect-future-see/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [What is it I see in the future? well I see so many things I see a world of peace where everyone treats each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-swenson/what-is-it-i-see-in-the-future-well-i-see-so-many-things-i-see-a/) [Emma Swenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-swenson/) > [“Our habit of wishing backward from what is to what might have been is the soft but persistent tapping that cracks the crystal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/our-habit-of-wishing-backward-from-what-is-to-what-might-have-been-is/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [“It took us a while to discover that we do effectively think, but that we more readily narrate backward in order to give ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/it-took-us-a-while-to-discover-that-we-do-effectively-think-but-that/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-learn-things-in-a-backward-way-i-learn-all-those-limitations-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-if-you-were-any-slower-you-d-be-going-backward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whoever said that the past isn’t dead had it backward. It’s the future that’s already dead, already played out. This whole night has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/whoever-said-that-the-past-isn-t-dead-had-it-backward-it-s-the-future/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [“Thus the thoughtless drift backward toward slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/thus-the-thoughtless-drift-backward-toward-slavery/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-hate-looking-backward-but-every-once-in-a-while-it-sneaks-up-on-you/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) ## More by Gloria Whelan > [I couldn’t live with myself if I thought nothing could get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-couldn-t-live-with-myself-if-i-thought-nothing-could-get-better/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [You're making yourself too important. Guilt comes from feeling we're at the center of the universe. We're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/you-re-making-yourself-too-important-guilt-comes-from-feeling-we-re/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [But what doesn’t die is the love we give to others. There is no end to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/but-what-doesn-t-die-is-the-love-we-give-to-others-there-is-no-end-to/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [They were all brilliant. They wrote books and painted pictures, and if they ever stopped talking, which I was sure they would never do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/they-were-all-brilliant-they-wrote-books-and-painted-pictures-and-if/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [“With a mind as bright as yours you will want to find a proper school to continue your education. … You must continue the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/with-a-mind-as-bright-as-yours-you-will-want-to-find-a-proper-school/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [I felt as if I had no control over what I said, as if loathsome, ugly words were waiting inside me like snakes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-felt-as-if-i-had-no-control-over-what-i-said-as-if-loathsome-ugly/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [I liked having some time to myself. Our family was such a close one, you could get smothered. Of course, we didn't always agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-liked-having-some-time-to-myself-our-family-was-such-a-close-one/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [I looked forward to making friends at school, but I had come late and friendships had already been formed. I couldn’t find my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-looked-forward-to-making-friends-at-school-but-i-had-come-late-and/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [Even our recreation was scheduled. There was no time to look for birds or wander into the nearby woods. We were put into teams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/even-our-recreation-was-scheduled-there-was-no-time-to-look-for-birds/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [“I have qualms and wonder what a qualm would look like if you painted it -- probably like a bowl of melting ice cream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-have-qualms-and-wonder-what-a-qualm-would-look-like-if-you-painted/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [But will you not have a house to care for? Meals to cook? Children whining for this or that? Will you have time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/but-will-you-not-have-a-house-to-care-for-meals-to-cook-children/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [It is hard to give up what you know for what you don’t know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/it-is-hard-to-give-up-what-you-know-for-what-you-don-t-know/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [I find having your own car is like a passport to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-find-having-your-own-car-is-like-a-passport-to-the-world/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [I thought I understood what was best. I knew too little and believed too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/i-thought-i-understood-what-was-best-i-knew-too-little-and-believed/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) [Explore all 15 Gloria Whelan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) ## More Backward quotes > [I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-hate-looking-backward-but-every-once-in-a-while-it-sneaks-up-on-you/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) > [“Thus the thoughtless drift backward toward slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/thus-the-thoughtless-drift-backward-toward-slavery/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [“Whoever said that the past isn’t dead had it backward. It’s the future that’s already dead, already played out. This whole night has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/whoever-said-that-the-past-isn-t-dead-had-it-backward-it-s-the-future/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-if-you-were-any-slower-you-d-be-going-backward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-learn-things-in-a-backward-way-i-learn-all-those-limitations-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [“It took us a while to discover that we do effectively think, but that we more readily narrate backward in order to give ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/it-took-us-a-while-to-discover-that-we-do-effectively-think-but-that/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Our habit of wishing backward from what is to what might have been is the soft but persistent tapping that cracks the crystal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/our-habit-of-wishing-backward-from-what-is-to-what-might-have-been-is/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The thing I love most about my job is watching people age backward, becoming more lively and energetic as they free themselves from situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-thing-i-love-most-about-my-job-is-watching-people-age-backward/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Dreaming her way backward in time, resurrecting images, the young girl realized, with wonder, that the absent are always present, that you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/dreaming-her-way-backward-in-time-resurrecting-images-the-young-girl/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [“Us ballplayers do things backward. First we play, then we retire and go to work. —CHARLIE GEHRINGER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/us-ballplayers-do-things-backward-first-we-play-then-we-retire-and-go-2/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [This was the Darker Life, where every truth was written backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-was-the-darker-life-where-every-truth-was-written-backward/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!I am so weary of toil and of tears,-Toil without recompense, tears all in vain!Take them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chase-allen/backward-flow-backward-o-tide-of-the-years-i-am-so-weary-of-toil-and/) [Elizabeth Chase Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chase-allen/) > [I loved you backward and forward in time. I loved you beyond boundaries of time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-loved-you-backward-and-forward-in-time-i-loved-you-beyond/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead; that is where your future lies. Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/nobody-gets-to-live-life-backward-look-ahead-that-is-where-your/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [“Life, too, is like that. You live it forward, but understand it backward." from CUTTING FOR STONE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/life-too-is-like-that-you-live-it-forward-but-understand-it-backward/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) Browse all 340 Backward quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People long to go backward in their imagination as well as forward. 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