---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is past is past. never go back. Not…"
description: "\"What is past is past. never go back. Not for excuses. Not for justification, not for happiness. You are what you are, the world is what it is.\" — Mario..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png"
---

#  What is past is past. never go back. Not for excuses. Not…

![“What is past is past. never go back. Not for excuses. Not for justification, not for happiness. You are what you are, the world is what it is.” quote by Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png)

> “What is past is past. never go back. Not for excuses. Not for justification, not for happiness. You are what you are, the world is what it is.”

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote urges letting go of past mistakes and excuses, focusing on present reality and personal identity.

**In simple terms:** Leave the past behind and accept reality.

Key Takeaway

Stop dwelling on past, act now.

Themes

acceptance personal responsibility reality

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- career decisions
- conflict resolution
- personal growth

Key Concepts

existentialism self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What past event still influences you?
- How can you use acceptance to move forward?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring the past may overlook lessons that could improve future choices.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Justification Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification-happiness-3423918/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-excuses-1243385/) [Past Is Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-is-past/) [Past Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-past-251588/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Past is past but you can't erase the past in your life.so,live with it and make it your reason to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyrala/past-is-past-but-you-can-t-erase-the-past-in-your-life-so-live-with/)

[Joyrala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyrala/)

> [“Past is past, and the future is ahead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/past-is-past-and-the-future-is-ahead/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“The past is past. You tried to kill yourself. So what? I humped a couch in season twelve. We all have our skeletons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-demetrios/the-past-is-past-you-tried-to-kill-yourself-so-what-i-humped-a-couch/)

[Heather Demetrios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-demetrios/)

> [The past is past; what's gone on has gone on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-furnish/the-past-is-past-what-s-gone-on-has-gone-on/)

[David Furnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-furnish/)

> [Past is past jst forget about it...yesterday was a history..tomorrow is a mystery...today is a gift that is why it is called present...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maclon-s-fernandes/past-is-past-jst-forget-about-it-yesterday-was-a-history-tomorrow-is/)

[Maclon S Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maclon-s-fernandes/)

> [“The past is past. And better it remain so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-blum/the-past-is-past-and-better-it-remain-so/)

[Jenna Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-blum/)

> [Your Ex is happy with someone else. Move on and start a new life. Past is past. Show to your Ex that you also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-ex-is-happy-with-someone-else-move-on-and-start-a-new-life-past/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Past is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-waterman/past-is-past/)

[Pete Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-waterman/)

> [The past is past .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-is-past/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“There is a reason why past is past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-francis-alfar/there-is-a-reason-why-past-is-past/)

[Dean Francis Alfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-francis-alfar/)

> [The Past is Past and only a better Future can change that...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-is-past-and-only-a-better-future-can-change-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“There ae things we cannot change so it's better not to talk about what happened. Past is past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-weber-martins/there-ae-things-we-cannot-change-so-it-s-better-not-to-talk-about/)

[Marcia Weber Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-weber-martins/)

> [Maybe Rachel was right all along. Maybe the past is past, history is history, and you just push it aside and look for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/maybe-rachel-was-right-all-along-maybe-the-past-is-past-history-is/)

[Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/)

> [What is past is past. You can do nothing about yesterday and last month and the failures of last year, but you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/what-is-past-is-past-you-can-do-nothing-about-yesterday-and-last/)

[Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/)

> [PAST IS PAST. AS THE SAYING GOE'S BUT YOU NEED TO REALISE THAT IT WILL ALWAYS BE A SHADOW OF YOUR PRESENT AND YOUR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medel-limbag/past-is-past-as-the-saying-goe-s-but-you-need-to-realise-that-it-will/)

[Medel Limbag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medel-limbag/)

## More by Mario Puzo

> [“There are things that have to be done and you do them and you never talk about them.They can't be justified.You just do them.Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/there-are-things-that-have-to-be-done-and-you-do-them-and-you-never/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [He had long ago learned that society imposes insults that must be borne, comforted by the knowledge that in this world there comes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/he-had-long-ago-learned-that-society-imposes-insults-that-must-be/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“going to the mattresses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/going-to-the-mattresses/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [I want to tell you a story. I have no other vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/i-want-to-tell-you-a-story-i-have-no-other-vanity/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“Wasn't it true that Sometimes the greatest misfortunes brought unforseen rewards? -Don Corleone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/wasn-t-it-true-that-sometimes-the-greatest-misfortunes-brought/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“Pope Alexander smiled. He seemed more amused with the story than horrified. "The Baglioni are true believers," he said. "They believe in paradise. Such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/pope-alexander-smiled-he-seemed-more-amused-with-the-story-than/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [It was a lie but he believed in telling lies to people. Truth telling and medicine just didn't go together except in dire emergencies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-was-a-lie-but-he-believed-in-telling-lies-to-people-truth-telling/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [God seemed to be having a hard time killing him, and he'd be damned if he was going to make the job easy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/god-seemed-to-be-having-a-hard-time-killing-him-and-he-d-be-damned-if/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“Everything you do in life use percentage as your god.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/everything-you-do-in-life-use-percentage-as-your-god/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“But up until that time I want you just to follow my lead and don’t worry. There are negotiations going on that will solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/but-up-until-that-time-i-want-you-just-to-follow-my-lead-and-don-t/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“My dear Guiliano," he said, "how is it that you and Don Croce do not join together to rule Sicily? He has the wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/my-dear-guiliano-he-said-how-is-it-that-you-and-don-croce-do-not-join/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“It pleased him to see the hurt look on her face, the tears springing into her eyes. She might be a daughter of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-pleased-him-to-see-the-hurt-look-on-her-face-the-tears-springing/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“We are not responsible to the .90 calibers the pezzonovantis who take it upon themselves to decide what we shall do with out lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/we-are-not-responsible-to-the-90-calibers-the-pezzonovantis-who-take/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“I do not seek it or desire it. If I must, I will accept the punishment for all my sins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/i-do-not-seek-it-or-desire-it-if-i-must-i-will-accept-the-punishment/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-more-than-talent-it-is-more/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

[Explore all 171 Mario Puzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

## More Excuse quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/)

[Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/)

> [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/)

[Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/)

> [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/)

[Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/)

> [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

> [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/)

[Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/)

> [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/)

[Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/)

[Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What is past is past. never go back. Not for excuses. Not for justification, not for happiness. You are what you are, the world is what it is.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mario Puzo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-for-excuses-not-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Excuse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-for-excuses-not-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/mario-puzo-2187_excuse_what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-f_1175295.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What is past is past. never go back. Not for excuses. Not for justification, not for happiness. You are what…” — Mario Puzo",
                "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": "Mario Puzo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What is past is past. never...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-for-excuses-not-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/what-is-past-is-past-never-go-back-not-for-excuses-not-for/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
