--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find only sadness and melancholy when I…" description: "\"“I find only sadness and melancholy when I wade through the past, even when revisiting good memories. The past is gone; I can neither grasp it nor resh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg" --- # I find only sadness and melancholy when I wade through the… ![“I find only sadness and melancholy when I wade through the past, even when revisiting good memories. The past is gone; I can neither grasp it nor reshape it. Therefore, I must force my eyes to look toward the future where my mortal powers thrive.” quote by Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg) > ““I find only sadness and melancholy when I wade through the past, even when revisiting good memories. The past is gone; I can neither grasp it nor reshape it. Therefore, I must force my eyes to look toward the future where my mortal powers thrive.”” [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## 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 and unattainable; focusing on it breeds melancholy, so we must redirect energy toward shaping the future. **In simple terms:** Past cannot be changed; look forward. Key Takeaway Channel focus into future actions. Themes memory time growth Mood thoughtful hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - goal setting - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts impermanence agency future orientation Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from past regrets? - How can you balance remembrance with progress? A Different Perspective Future focus may ignore valuable lessons from the past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Good memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-memories/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Past life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-life/) [Richelle-e-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Richelle-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-goodrich/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When you dwell on your past then you are revisiting a place that God has already wiped off the map. Don't go there...it's forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-dwell-on-your-past-then-you-are-revisiting-a-place-that-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There was a sadness over me, a melancholy. That's always been a part of me - those are some of the things that lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/there-was-a-sadness-over-me-a-melancholy-that-s-always-been-a-part-of/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [“Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-if-anything-is-trying-to-hold-you-back-give-no-attention-to-it/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Why do we spend so much time looking back, when we've got so much to look forward too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-we-spend-so-much-time-looking-back-when-we-ve-got-so-much-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you want to ever achieve happiness, don't dwell on the past. Instead, start living. What is the point of obsessing over something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kien-nguyen/if-you-want-to-ever-achieve-happiness-don-t-dwell-on-the-past-instead/) [Kien Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kien-nguyen/) > [“I know you wish to be saved from terrors that seem unheard of, the path has been paved and soon you'll no longer be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavinia-valeriana/i-know-you-wish-to-be-saved-from-terrors-that-seem-unheard-of-the/) Lavinia Valeriana > [“As you struggle through whatever you are going through remember there is help somewhere, someone out there has solutions, and you will stumble upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/as-you-struggle-through-whatever-you-are-going-through-remember-there/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Look beyond your current circumstances to future happiness, wholeness, wealth, and new beginnings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/look-beyond-your-current-circumstances-to-future-happiness-wholeness/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“It is a fight to let go of a past that refuses to withdraw its sticky tentacles from your present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-is-a-fight-to-let-go-of-a-past-that-refuses-to-withdraw-its-sticky/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I cherish my entire life. I've been blessed with a life full of good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/i-cherish-my-entire-life-i-ve-been-blessed-with-a-life-full-of-good/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [We are best friends we have fights we have good memories and nothing will ever break as apart we're like sisters and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-best-friends-we-have-fights-we-have-good-memories-and-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do have a really good memory. I mean, like, I can remember all the phone numbers of everybody on the street I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/i-do-have-a-really-good-memory-i-mean-like-i-can-remember-all-the/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [The good time become good memories. The bad time become good lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/the-good-time-become-good-memories-the-bad-time-become-good-lesson/) Glemar > [In BestFriend Every Letter Has A Meaning ! B:est at wat we do E:very time yuh make me laugh S:orry for wat went wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marrah-b/in-bestfriend-every-letter-has-a-meaning-b-est-at-wat-we-do-e-very/) Marrah B > [A good memory is one trained to forget the trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/a-good-memory-is-one-trained-to-forget-the-trivial/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) ## More by Richelle E. Goodrich > [“Truth is, I’m generally happiest when it’s just me. It’s okay to be madly in love with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/truth-is-i-m-generally-happiest-when-it-s-just-me-it-s-okay-to-be/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“ Happily-ever-afters don't come in happily-every-days . They are found at the end of challenges-ever-met, promises-ever-kept, and tears-ever-wept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/happily-ever-afters-don-t-come-in-happily-every-days-they-are-found/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Memories of past. Heartaches of old. Courage of brass. Lessons of gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/memories-of-past-heartaches-of-old-courage-of-brass-lessons-of-gold/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Mystery, why so attractive to me? You blind me with fear, place hope on my tongue, and with a cold kiss draw me forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/mystery-why-so-attractive-to-me-you-blind-me-with-fear-place-hope-on/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“It's amusing to me that we refer to people who live in their heads as detached, disturbed, or mad, when reality for anyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-s-amusing-to-me-that-we-refer-to-people-who-live-in-their-heads-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Such a nasty bruise,” he says, staring straight into my eyes. I am stunned he can see it. Delicate to the touch and tender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/such-a-nasty-bruise-he-says-staring-straight-into-my-eyes-i-am/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You made a choice—a single choice. How neat to think you may have opened the door to a wondrous future without knowing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-made-a-choice-a-single-choice-how-neat-to-think-you-may-have/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“The key to valuing something is to lose it and then realize how rare it was—after which you pray like mad to regain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-key-to-valuing-something-is-to-lose-it-and-then-realize-how-rare/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Rather than critique people, try admiring God’s creative handiwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/rather-than-critique-people-try-admiring-god-s-creative-handiwork/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Explore all 987 Richelle E. Goodrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## More Future quotes > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [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/) > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [“We have no idea, now, of who or what the inhabitants of our future might be. In that sense, we have no future. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/we-have-no-idea-now-of-who-or-what-the-inhabitants-of-our-future/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [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/) > [Football is my passion, and who knows where I will play in the future - you cannot foresee that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/football-is-my-passion-and-who-knows-where-i-will-play-in-the-future/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [I think everybody in the future has stopped talking to each other and we all just use emojis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/i-think-everybody-in-the-future-has-stopped-talking-to-each-other-and/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [When you continue to dwell on the past, there's no chance for a future. History repeats itself, thus, it's ok to LOOK back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-continue-to-dwell-on-the-past-there-s-no-chance-for-a-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) [Browse all 12,349 Future quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I find only sadness and melancholy when I wade through the past, even when revisiting good memories. The past is gone; I can neither grasp it nor reshape it. Therefore, I must force my eyes to look toward the future where my mortal powers thrive.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richelle E. Goodrich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when-i-wade-through-the-past-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Future" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when-i-wade-through-the-past-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/richelle-e-goodrich-180_future_i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when_2303402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I find only sadness and melancholy when I wade through the past, even when revisiting good memories. The…” — Richelle E. Goodrich", "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": "Richelle E. Goodrich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I find only sadness and melancholy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when-i-wade-through-the-past-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-find-only-sadness-and-melancholy-when-i-wade-through-the-past-even/#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 } } ] } ```