--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They spend their time looking forward to…" description: "\"They spend their time looking forward to the past.\" — John Osborne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg" --- # They spend their time looking forward to the past. ![“They spend their time looking forward to the past.” quote by John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg) > “They spend their time looking forward to the past.” [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often idealize memories, focusing on what was rather than present reality. **In simple terms:** People cling to nostalgic memories. Key Takeaway Recognize the present and let go of idealized past. Themes nostalgia memory present focus Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - career decisions - personal growth - grieving - creative work Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What past memory holds you back? - How can you appreciate today more? A Different Perspective Nostalgia can blind us to current opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Forward Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward-past-2165147/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Looking forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-forward/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-looking-263721/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [We spend a lot of time looking at the things we like: Amazon, Google, Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/we-spend-a-lot-of-time-looking-at-the-things-we-like-amazon-google/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [“Always keep your focus forward, never in the past. If you focus on the past it holds you there. You cannot change the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-o-neill/always-keep-your-focus-forward-never-in-the-past-if-you-focus-on-the/) [Jennifer O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-o-neill/) > [“There will always be ups and downs, twists and turns in our lives. But we have to find the strength to keep moving forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalpa-williby/there-will-always-be-ups-and-downs-twists-and-turns-in-our-lives-but/) [Jalpa Williby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalpa-williby/) > [A man whose yesterdays rest on his horizon travels forward into his past. The result is that he goes a very long way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/a-man-whose-yesterdays-rest-on-his-horizon-travels-forward-into-his/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [Never look back while trying to move forward, the past is behind you and your future is in front of you, keep moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/never-look-back-while-trying-to-move-forward-the-past-is-behind-you/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [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/) > [I walked out of... was it 'Stardust?' That thing with the witches? I was so looking forward to it, but I just couldn't handle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlto-copley/i-walked-out-of-was-it-stardust-that-thing-with-the-witches-i-was-so/) [Sharlto Copley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlto-copley/) > [The team came together. We're looking forward to the next race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-surtees/the-team-came-together-we-re-looking-forward-to-the-next-race/) [John Surtees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-surtees/) > [I'm grateful that the team allowed me back. I'm looking forward to making it up to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-green/i-m-grateful-that-the-team-allowed-me-back-i-m-looking-forward-to/) [William Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-green/) > [I am a strong man, I am always looking forward and this is my main thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-doucoure/i-am-a-strong-man-i-am-always-looking-forward-and-this-is-my-main/) [Abdoulaye Doucoure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-doucoure/) > [On 'Ghost In The Shell,' I'm looking forward more to working with Scarlett Johannson and Rupert Sanders than portraying a lead!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pilou-asbaek/on-ghost-in-the-shell-i-m-looking-forward-more-to-working-with/) [Pilou Asbaek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pilou-asbaek/) > [My first child is going to be the oldest sibling to the next kid, and that may change with each and every year. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/my-first-child-is-going-to-be-the-oldest-sibling-to-the-next-kid-and/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [I don't want to keep looking back in the past. I want to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/i-don-t-want-to-keep-looking-back-in-the-past-i-want-to-move-forward/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [I never waste time looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-never-waste-time-looking-back/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More by John Osborne > [“Why don't we have a little game? Let's pretend that we're human beings, and that we're actually alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/why-don-t-we-have-a-little-game-let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Go on - but don't think you can kill my confidence. I've had experts doing it for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/go-on-but-don-t-think-you-can-kill-my-confidence-i-ve-had-experts/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/don-t-clap-too-hard-it-s-a-very-old-building/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [It is not true that drink changes a man's character. It may reveal it more clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/it-is-not-true-that-drink-changes-a-man-s-character-it-may-reveal-it/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [And even in the hatred of the majority, there's a kind of triumph because I know that, although they'd never admit it, they secretly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/and-even-in-the-hatred-of-the-majority-there-s-a-kind-of-triumph/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Laughter's the nearest we ever get, or should get, to sainthood. It's the state of grace that saves most of us from contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/laughter-s-the-nearest-we-ever-get-or-should-get-to-sainthood-it-s/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [There's no such thing as failure - just waiting for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/there-s-no-such-thing-as-failure-just-waiting-for-success/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Yes, I loved her. I was in love with her, whatever that may mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/yes-i-loved-her-i-was-in-love-with-her-whatever-that-may-mean/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“I suppose people of our generation aren't able to die for good causes any longer. We had all that done for us, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/i-suppose-people-of-our-generation-aren-t-able-to-die-for-good-causes/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [I never deliberately set out to shock, but when people don't walk out of my plays I think there is something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/i-never-deliberately-set-out-to-shock-but-when-people-don-t-walk-out/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Heroes, whatever high ideas we may have of them, are mortal and not divine. We are all as God made us and many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/heroes-whatever-high-ideas-we-may-have-of-them-are-mortal-and-not/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“To be as vehement as he is is to be almost non-committal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/to-be-as-vehement-as-he-is-is-to-be-almost-non-committal/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Here we are, we're alone in the universe, there's no God, it just seems that it all began by something as simple as sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/here-we-are-we-re-alone-in-the-universe-there-s-no-god-it-just-seems/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“Alison: I don't think I want anything more to do with love. Any more. I can't take it on. Cliff: You're too young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/alison-i-don-t-think-i-want-anything-more-to-do-with-love-any-more-i/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry - angry and helpless. And I can never forget it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/you-see-i-learnt-at-an-early-age-what-it-was-to-be-angry-angry-and/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) [Explore all 51 John Osborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) ## More Forward quotes > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The further forward we go, the further back we have to explore in order to go forward again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gardiner/the-further-forward-we-go-the-further-back-we-have-to-explore-in/) [Stephen Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gardiner/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Don't let anything holds you back, not even your loved ones. YOU must keep moving forward, NOT backwards!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia/don-t-let-anything-holds-you-back-not-even-your-loved-ones-you-must/) [Mia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I really tried to put my best foot forward all these years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/i-really-tried-to-put-my-best-foot-forward-all-these-years/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [In today's day and age, one looks forward to experimenting and it pays off at times and at times it doesn't. This does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/in-today-s-day-and-age-one-looks-forward-to-experimenting-and-it-pays/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [“I'm sure if you go forward, that something you'll find it, you'll find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaejin-insoo/i-m-sure-if-you-go-forward-that-something-you-ll-find-it-you-ll-find/) [Chaejin Insoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaejin-insoo/) > [I'm really looking forward to a time when generations after us look back and say how ridiculous it was that humans were driving cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-a-time-when-generations-after-us-look/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) [Browse all 3,019 Forward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They spend their time looking forward to the past.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Osborne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to-the-past/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forward" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to-the-past/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/john-osborne-12988_forward_they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to_2629028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They spend their time looking forward to the past.” — John Osborne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Osborne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They spend their time looking forward...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to-the-past/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/they-spend-their-time-looking-forward-to-the-past/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```