--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One good thing about the past is that you…" description: "\"One good thing about the past is that you can't change it. So there's no reason to go back. It's there. It is what it is. The only thing you can change..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg" --- # One good thing about the past is that you can't change it… ![“One good thing about the past is that you can't change it. So there's no reason to go back. It's there. It is what it is. The only thing you can change is right now and what's happening next.” quote by Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg) > “One good thing about the past is that you can't change it. So there's no reason to go back. It's there. It is what it is. The only thing you can change is right now and what's happening next.” [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The past is immutable, so focus on present actions and future possibilities. **In simple terms:** Past cannot be changed; act now. Key Takeaway Live in the present. Themes mindfulness action acceptance Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - career planning - relationship building - stress management Key Concepts impermanence agency temporal perspective Questions to Reflect On - What can you change today? - How does accepting the past affect your future? A Different Perspective Change requires effort and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-right-505311/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [It is what it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-is-what-it-is/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [No reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-reason/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-change/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Thing Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-change/) [Thing Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-past-493477/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [One thing, change, is what everyone says. The question is, what type of change? What's the right change to produce a different outcome for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/one-thing-change-is-what-everyone-says-the-question-is-what-type-of/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We can’t change the world. The only thing we can change is ourselves, by trying to get a better understanding of our own messed-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-spier/we-can-t-change-the-world-the-only-thing-we-can-change-is-ourselves/) [Guy Spier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-spier/) > [What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/what-you-re-supposed-to-do-when-you-don-t-like-a-thing-is-change-it/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You can not change the past but you can change the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/you-can-not-change-the-past-but-you-can-change-the-future/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [We can't change the past, so we change how people are thinking, feeling and behaving today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/we-can-t-change-the-past-so-we-change-how-people-are-thinking-feeling/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [You can't change the past but you can change everything else. Take your first step toward making a significant change in your life, today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/you-can-t-change-the-past-but-you-can-change-everything-else-take/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Don't Time travel into the past. You can't change it. Today it starts all over again. Every tomorrow is determined by every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/don-t-time-travel-into-the-past-you-can-t-change-it-today-it-starts/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [You cant change the past. You cant even change the future, in the sense that you can only change the present one moment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/you-cant-change-the-past-you-cant-even-change-the-future-in-the-sense/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [You can't change the past so change something you can. the future!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-something-you-can-the-future/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [I'm living with every step. I can't live with regret. The past is the past. I'm not worried about it. I can't change it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-sheckler/i-m-living-with-every-step-i-can-t-live-with-regret-the-past-is-the/) [Ryan Sheckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-sheckler/) > [I can't remember really what it's like to do it within Pink Floyd. In my mind, that's a thing of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-can-t-remember-really-what-it-s-like-to-do-it-within-pink-floyd-in/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [The future will soon be a thing of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-future-will-soon-be-a-thing-of-the-past/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The idea of being all things to all people is a thing of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-idea-of-being-all-things-to-all-people-is-a-thing-of-the-past/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Do not bother about to be recorded in history, try not to become a thing of the past!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-bother-about-to-be-recorded-in-history-try-not-to-become-a/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Well, the future for me is already a thing of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/well-the-future-for-me-is-already-a-thing-of-the-past/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## More by Neil Young > [A lot of people that buy vinyl today don’t realise that they’re listening to CD masters on vinyl and that’s because the record companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/a-lot-of-people-that-buy-vinyl-today-don-t-realise-that-they-re/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Let's roll for justice, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/let-s-roll-for-justice-let-s-roll-for-truth-let-s-not-let-our/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them. And I try to forgive them anyway I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/don-t-feel-like-satan-but-i-am-to-them-and-i-try-to-forgive-them/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [I never knew a man could tell so many lies, he had a different story for every set of eyes. How can he remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-never-knew-a-man-could-tell-so-many-lies-he-had-a-different-story/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/it-s-the-woman-in-you-that-makes-you-want-to-play-this-game/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Keep it moving. Don't hoard. Money's no good, get rid of it. Turn it into people doing things. Turn it into jobs. Turn it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/keep-it-moving-don-t-hoard-money-s-no-good-get-rid-of-it-turn-it-into/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [My dad passed away...and suddenly I found myself at the top of the tree and looking at the sky instead of at my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/my-dad-passed-away-and-suddenly-i-found-myself-at-the-top-of-the-tree/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [The Arabic states have to be integrated into the Iraqi reconstruction. We need the help of the Arabic community, which understands its culture. Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/the-arabic-states-have-to-be-integrated-into-the-iraqi-reconstruction/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Said the condor to the preying mantis, we're gonna lose this place just like we lost Atlantis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/said-the-condor-to-the-preying-mantis-we-re-gonna-lose-this-place/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [With Crazy Horse, it's all one big, growing, smoldering sound, and I'm part of it. It's like gliding, or some sort of natural surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/with-crazy-horse-it-s-all-one-big-growing-smoldering-sound-and-i-m/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [It doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/it-doesn-t-mean-that-much-to-me-to-mean-that-much-to-you/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Cocaine eyes won't hide your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/cocaine-eyes-won-t-hide-your-face/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Now I'm livin' out here on the beach, but those seagulls are still out of reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/now-i-m-livin-out-here-on-the-beach-but-those-seagulls-are-still-out/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [I've always been better moving than I am standing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-ve-always-been-better-moving-than-i-am-standing-still/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Don't think. The worst songs I've ever written happen when I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/don-t-think-the-worst-songs-i-ve-ever-written-happen-when-i-think/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) [Explore all 317 Neil Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) ## More Can't change quotes > [Donʹt worry now about what you canʹt change. Rest when you can so youʹll be ready for tomorrowʹs battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/don-t-worry-now-about-what-you-can-t-change-rest-when-you-can-so-you/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [You can't change your life. This mode in literature goes against the more middle-brown mode, which is about shaping your destiny, changing it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/you-can-t-change-your-life-this-mode-in-literature-goes-against-the/) [Tommy McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-mccarthy/) > [You can't change a man, no-ways. By the time his mummy turns him loose and he takes up with some innocent woman and marries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/you-can-t-change-a-man-no-ways-by-the-time-his-mummy-turns-him-loose/) [Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/) > [I don't worry about the things I can't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-don-t-worry-about-the-things-i-can-t-change/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [Congress decides who becomes a citizen and how. To automatically say the 14th Amendment grants birthright citizenship, no, we can't change that. Amending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/congress-decides-who-becomes-a-citizen-and-how-to-automatically-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Though I can't change what happened, I can choose how to react. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/though-i-can-t-change-what-happened-i-can-choose-how-to-react-and-i/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When a poem is really finished, you can't change anything. You can't move words around. You can't say, 'In other words, you mean.' No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/when-a-poem-is-really-finished-you-can-t-change-anything-you-can-t/) [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [The only thing one can usually change in one's situation is oneself. And yet one can't change that either-only ask Our Lord to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-only-thing-one-can-usually-change-in-one-s-situation-is-oneself/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-can-t-change-my-gender-and-i-refuse-to-stop-making-movies/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/but-i-think-it-s-more-that-when-you-re-young-you-re-invincible-you-re/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [You can't change t he wor ld f rom t he rear view mir ror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/you-can-t-change-t-he-wor-ld-f-rom-t-he-rear-view-mir-ror/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [You can't change your attitude because you're the champion. I've always kept my feet on the ground and never wanted to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renan-barao/you-can-t-change-your-attitude-because-you-re-the-champion-i-ve/) [Renan Barao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renan-barao/) > [By the time you're 30, you know who you are inside. You learn to laugh at things you can't change; you learn to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/by-the-time-you-re-30-you-know-who-you-are-inside-you-learn-to-laugh/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Those that can't change even their toothbrush and pyjamas are trying to change the world! Let us be serious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-that-can-t-change-even-their-toothbrush-and-pyjamas-are-trying/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The message I'm sending to myself - I can't change the world until I change myself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/the-message-i-m-sending-to-myself-i-can-t-change-the-world-until-i/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) [Browse all 311 Can't change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One good thing about the past is that you can't change it. So there's no reason to go back. It's there. It is what it is. The only thing you can change is right now and what's happening next.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-you-can-t-change-it-so-there-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can't change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-you-can-t-change-it-so-there-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/neil-young-969_can-t-change_one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-yo_627801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One good thing about the past is that you can't change it. So there's no reason to go back. It's there. It…” — Neil Young", "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": "Neil Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One good thing about the past...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-you-can-t-change-it-so-there-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-you-can-t-change-it-so-there-s/#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 } } ] } ```