--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back then, we could drive a mile from…" description: "\"Back then, we could drive a mile from home and there was nothing. Now it's grown in every direction and is populated and modernized. I guess I have mix..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/matthew-sweet-20573_feelings_back-then-we-could-drive-a-mile-from-hom_2969323.png" --- # Back then, we could drive a mile from home and there was… ![“Back then, we could drive a mile from home and there was nothing. Now it's grown in every direction and is populated and modernized. I guess I have mixed feelings about it, but I'm not someone that thinks everything should stop growing.” quote by Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/matthew-sweet-20573_feelings_back-then-we-could-drive-a-mile-from-hom_2969323.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/matthew-sweet-20573_feelings_back-then-we-could-drive-a-mile-from-hom_2969323.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/matthew-sweet-20573_feelings_back-then-we-could-drive-a-mile-from-hom_2969323.png) > “Back then, we could drive a mile from home and there was nothing. Now it's grown in every direction and is populated and modernized. I guess I have mixed feelings about it, but I'm not someone that thinks everything should stop growing.” [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Urban expansion brings mixed feelings; growth isn’t inherently negative, but change impacts identity. **In simple terms:** Growth brings both loss and gain. Key Takeaway Balance development with community values. Themes urbanization change nostalgia growth modernity Mood nostalgic thoughtful concerned Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - city planning - heritage preservation - personal reflection Key Concepts sociology environment urban planning Questions to Reflect On - How to preserve identity amid expansion? - What growth is sustainable? A Different Perspective Growth can erode culture; not all change is beneficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Direction Populated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction-populated-4562701/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Grown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown/) [Grown Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-direction-4562700/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miles/) [Mixed feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixed-feelings/) [New home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-home/) [Populated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/populated-1096717/) [Populated Modernized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/populated-modernized-4562699/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [So it helped me to just let go of all my tensions and feelings about that world and say 'OK, this is for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/so-it-helped-me-to-just-let-go-of-all-my-tensions-and-feelings-about/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [I come from New York. It's busy. It's populated. It's noisy. It's loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-come-from-new-york-it-s-busy-it-s-populated-it-s-noisy-it-s-loud/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [Television is populated with commitment-phobes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/television-is-populated-with-commitment-phobes/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [The Wild Wood is pretty well populated by now; with all the usual lot, good, bad, and indifferent--I name no names. It takes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/the-wild-wood-is-pretty-well-populated-by-now-with-all-the-usual-lot-2/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [“If people who were actually born had to prove they were worthy enough to live in America, this would be a much less populated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/if-people-who-were-actually-born-had-to-prove-they-were-worthy-enough/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [“I couldn't blame anyone for what was in me, because I am, like everyone, populated entirely by myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/i-couldn-t-blame-anyone-for-what-was-in-me-because-i-am-like-everyone/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [Ithaca is sort of a populated and diverse area. There's a wide spectrum of people living there. In that sense, it was a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/ithaca-is-sort-of-a-populated-and-diverse-area-there-s-a-wide/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [“The Wild Wood is pretty well populated by now; with all the usual lot, good, bad, and indifferent—I name no names.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/the-wild-wood-is-pretty-well-populated-by-now-with-all-the-usual-lot/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [I like California a lot. There's a lot of space, but it's actually the most populated place in the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-like-california-a-lot-there-s-a-lot-of-space-but-it-s-actually-the/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [Sure, when you think 'World of Warcraft,' you might picture the nerdier set - those who may have sacrificed hygiene and sleep to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schreier/sure-when-you-think-world-of-warcraft-you-might-picture-the-nerdier/) [Jason Schreier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schreier/) > [For four - fifths of our history, our planet was populated by pondscum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-schopf/for-four-fifths-of-our-history-our-planet-was-populated-by-pondscum/) [J. William Schopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-schopf/) > [It might have been really cool back in the '50s when it was less populated but I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/it-might-have-been-really-cool-back-in-the-50s-when-it-was-less/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [Mixed feelings, like mixed drinks, are a confusion to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carman/mixed-feelings-like-mixed-drinks-are-a-confusion-to-the-soul/) [George Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carman/) > [“happy to see me and unhappy to see me at the same time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/happy-to-see-me-and-unhappy-to-see-me-at-the-same-time/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I had mixed feelings when the entire country was celebrating the death of Pablo Escobar and even Bill Clinton was congratulating the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-vallejo/i-had-mixed-feelings-when-the-entire-country-was-celebrating-the/) [Virginia Vallejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-vallejo/) ## More by Matthew Sweet > [In a world that's ugly and a lie, it's hard to even want to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/in-a-world-that-s-ugly-and-a-lie-it-s-hard-to-even-want-to-try/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [They said, 'If we put you in first class with Brian, will you do it?' So I flew after not having flown in eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/they-said-if-we-put-you-in-first-class-with-brian-will-you-do-it-so-i/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [He wanted to play accordion on something of mine and I said you can play accordion, but I want you to play piano and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/he-wanted-to-play-accordion-on-something-of-mine-and-i-said-you-can/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [Wavering and burning like a golden lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/wavering-and-burning-like-a-golden-lie/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [First off, I don't want anyone to think I'm this huge thing in Japan. Every group from here that's made any records over any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/first-off-i-don-t-want-anyone-to-think-i-m-this-huge-thing-in-japan/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [When I go to Japan and do shows I play for 1,000 to 1,500 people. I like a lot about Japan. Their popular culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/when-i-go-to-japan-and-do-shows-i-play-for-1-000-to-1-500-people-i/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [He helped make Living Things even more crazy than I wanted it to be. 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The reality is that the times I had the most media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/girlfriend-and-100-percent-fun-were-my-two-peeks-around-92-and-96-the/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [I have more perspective now, and am happier now. It's not that I don't want success, but I now know I can have success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/i-have-more-perspective-now-and-am-happier-now-it-s-not-that-i-don-t/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [You know that they're not just into it for the moment, they really care about it and value it over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/you-know-that-they-re-not-just-into-it-for-the-moment-they-really/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [The summer of 2002 at the Wilson birthday party I met Van Dyke again and I made plans to have dinner with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/the-summer-of-2002-at-the-wilson-birthday-party-i-met-van-dyke-again/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [So it helped me to just let go of all my tensions and feelings about that world and say 'OK, this is for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/so-it-helped-me-to-just-let-go-of-all-my-tensions-and-feelings-about/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) > [I wanted Kimi to be a Japanese record with a Japanese title. I wanted it to be for them. They appreciate things on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/i-wanted-kimi-to-be-a-japanese-record-with-a-japanese-title-i-wanted/) [Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) [Explore all 30 Matthew Sweet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. 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It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Back then, we could drive a mile from home and there was nothing. Now it's grown in every direction and is populated and modernized. 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