--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I…" description: "\"“I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I could, because I’d go back and relive every day that I existed without you, and I’d make sure that you smiled...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/penelope-douglas-2563_change_i-can-t-change-the-past-tate-i-wish-i-co_563414.png" --- # I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I could, because I’d… ![“I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I could, because I’d go back and relive every day that I existed without you, and I’d make sure that you smiled.” My eyes burned with regret, and I saw the pools in her beautiful blues, too. “Every minute of my future belongs to you.” quote by Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/penelope-douglas-2563_change_i-can-t-change-the-past-tate-i-wish-i-co_563414.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/penelope-douglas-2563_change_i-can-t-change-the-past-tate-i-wish-i-co_563414.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/penelope-douglas-2563_change_i-can-t-change-the-past-tate-i-wish-i-co_563414.png) > ““I can’t change the past, Tate. I wish I could, because I’d go back and relive every day that I existed without you, and I’d make sure that you smiled.” My eyes burned with regret, and I saw the pools in her beautiful blues, too. “Every minute of my future belongs to you.”” [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker regrets past choices, wishes to rewrite history, and promises future devotion to a loved one. **In simple terms:** Regret and longing for a loved one. Key Takeaway Focus on present actions to honor future promises. Themes regret love time travel Mood melancholic hopeful Type romantic dramatic When to use this quote - relationship counseling - creative writing - personal growth - grief therapy Key Concepts commitment redemption emotional intimacy Questions to Reflect On - What can you do now to improve the relationship? - How does longing influence your present decisions? A Different Perspective Time travel fantasies can distract from real-life resolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Every Minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-minute/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The first thing that came to mind was an angel. Her hair flowing and shiny. Her legs dangling, long and smooth. She looked perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/the-first-thing-that-came-to-mind-was-an-angel-her-hair-flowing-and/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I’ll do anything to be good for you, Tate.” “Anything, baby,” I promised. “Anything?” she laughed out, her eyes bright with happiness and love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-ll-do-anything-to-be-good-for-you-tate-anything-baby-i-promised/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“She’d look at me, and I’d stop dead in my tracks, never wanting to leave that moment. Do you know what that’s like?” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/she-d-look-at-me-and-i-d-stop-dead-in-my-tracks-never-wanting-to/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Sheridan bit back a teary smile at his quip, afraid to believe him, afraid to trust him, and unable to stop herself because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/sheridan-bit-back-a-teary-smile-at-his-quip-afraid-to-believe-him/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“Madoc has a winning personality, and he’s hot. But Jared is just hot. At least Madoc has more going for him. Was she on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/madoc-has-a-winning-personality-and-he-s-hot-but-jared-is-just-hot-at/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Who had left a balloon? “I brought your mom the balloon yesterday,” Jared admitted as if reading my mind. “Why?” My voice shook. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/who-had-left-a-balloon-i-brought-your-mom-the-balloon-yesterday-jared/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Madoc, it’s Jax,” he said in a serious tone. “I’m at your house. Tate and I want confirmation you’re not drunk, high, or suicidal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/madoc-it-s-jax-he-said-in-a-serious-tone-i-m-at-your-house-tate-and-i/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“There were so many times when we were kids, growing up next door to each other, that I thought Jared was the greatest. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/there-were-so-many-times-when-we-were-kids-growing-up-next-door-to/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Jared gripped me tighter. "If you beat metal long enough, it turns to steel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/jared-gripped-me-tighter-if-you-beat-metal-long-enough-it-turns-to/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“He murmured her name, tenderly taking her face in his hands. “I love you,” he said, his voice low and fervent. “I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/he-murmured-her-name-tenderly-taking-her-face-in-his-hands-i-love-you/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“She very much feared that if she stayed with Maximus, this awful taint – this terribly wrong act – would, day by day, year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/she-very-much-feared-that-if-she-stayed-with-maximus-this-awful-taint/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I really love Penelope Cruz, because she has the tan skin. I think it's important to look at people who resemble you and see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-dupont/i-really-love-penelope-cruz-because-she-has-the-tan-skin-i-think-it-s/) [Tiffany Dupont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-dupont/) > [“The gods granted us misery, in jealousy over the thought that we two, always together, should enjoy our youth, and then come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-gods-granted-us-misery-in-jealousy-over-the-thought-that-we-two/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“was the time to ask him out, if there ever was one. “What time is it?” I said out loud. Penelope Akk, legendary supervillain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-roberts/was-the-time-to-ask-him-out-if-there-ever-was-one-what-time-is-it-i/) [Richard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-roberts/) > [“I called dibs on Penelope when we were nine, and I made sure every boy our age knew it too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-bailey/i-called-dibs-on-penelope-when-we-were-nine-and-i-made-sure-every-boy/) [Sarah A. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-bailey/) ## More by Penelope Douglas > [“Madoc was always calm, after all. So calm all the damn time growing up. He didn’t shout or show his anger until he’d had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/madoc-was-always-calm-after-all-so-calm-all-the-damn-time-growing-up/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Tal vez había consecuencias que no deberíamos tener que aceptar, pero no obstante existían.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/tal-vez-hab-a-consecuencias-que-no-deber-amos-tener-que-aceptar-pero/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I want to touch you,” I whispered against her lips. “I want to feel what’s mine. What’s always been mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-want-to-touch-you-i-whispered-against-her-lips-i-want-to-feel-what/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You just think I’m cool, because I have all of the seasons of Vampire Diaries on DVD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-just-think-i-m-cool-because-i-have-all-of-the-seasons-of-vampire/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“For all intents and purposes, he was a fun guy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/for-all-intents-and-purposes-he-was-a-fun-guy/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“La parte más difícil es saltar. No puedo retroceder y no puedo seguir tratando de complacer al mundo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/la-parte-m-s-dif-cil-es-saltar-no-puedo-retroceder-y-no-puedo-seguir/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-that-made-me-keep-breathing-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I held Madoc by the inside of his elbow and held Jerod closer to me by the bicep. While a month ago I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-held-madoc-by-the-inside-of-his-elbow-and-held-jerod-closer-to-me/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-people-will-eat-anything/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“yesterday lasts forever. tomorrow never comes. until you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/yesterday-lasts-forever-tomorrow-never-comes-until-you/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“We’re only ever good, because there are consequences,” I told her. “Take those away, and everyone shows their true self. Kind of like taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/we-re-only-ever-good-because-there-are-consequences-i-told-her-take/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Don’t worry,” he said letting me go and adding a brownie and chocolate milk to my tray. “All they see is me fucking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/don-t-worry-he-said-letting-me-go-and-adding-a-brownie-and-chocolate/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You either have my back…” “You’re at my side…” “Or you’re in my way...” “Be Lilith, Never Eve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-either-have-my-back-you-re-at-my-side-or-you-re-in-my-way-be/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Are you mine?” I asked as I wiped my tears. He kissed the corners of my mouth softly, and I felt heat rise up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/are-you-mine-i-asked-as-i-wiped-my-tears-he-kissed-the-corners-of-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-ve-always-wanted-me-you-know-why-because-i-don-t-try-to-kill-your/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) [Explore all 149 Penelope Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I can’t change the past, Tate. 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