--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact is that five years ago I was, as…" description: "\"The fact is that five years ago I was, as near as possible, a different person to what I am tonight. I, as I am now, didn't exist at all. Will the same..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/siegfried-sassoon-10445_change_the-fact-is-that-five-years-ago-i-was-as_2695498.jpg" --- # The fact is that five years ago I was, as near as… ![“The fact is that five years ago I was, as near as possible, a different person to what I am tonight. I, as I am now, didn't exist at all. Will the same thing happen in the next five years? I hope so.” quote by Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/siegfried-sassoon-10445_change_the-fact-is-that-five-years-ago-i-was-as_2695498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/siegfried-sassoon-10445_change_the-fact-is-that-five-years-ago-i-was-as_2695498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/siegfried-sassoon-10445_change_the-fact-is-that-five-years-ago-i-was-as_2695498.jpg) > “The fact is that five years ago I was, as near as possible, a different person to what I am tonight. I, as I am now, didn't exist at all. Will the same thing happen in the next five years? I hope so.” [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) ## 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 reflects on personal transformation over five years and anticipates further change, emphasizing growth as a continuous process. **In simple terms:** People change over time and will keep evolving. Key Takeaway Embrace change and look forward. Themes growth self‑reflection future Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - life coaching - education - health goals - creative projects Key Concepts identity temporal change personal development Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself do you want to evolve? - How can you prepare for future change? A Different Perspective Change can be unsettling and may involve loss of familiar identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [“Objects that don't exist don't exist. 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The only thing that does exist is life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keysi/in-the-real-world-once-upon-a-time-and-happily-ever-after-does-not/) Keysi > [Everything is eternal Nothingness does not exist No thing has ever become nothing And nothing has never become something What is has always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/everything-is-eternal-nothingness-does-not-exist-no-thing-has-ever/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [Scripts didn't exist during my time in Bollywood, or, at least, I was never given one. 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Clearly, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/i-suppose-i-was-dying-again-so-i-asked-the-lord-of-permanent/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [I got an A in philosophy because I proved my professor didn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-tenuta/i-got-an-a-in-philosophy-because-i-proved-my-professor-didn-t-exist/) [Judy Tenuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-tenuta/) > [“The sonogram didn't exist at the time; the spoon was the next best thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-sonogram-didn-t-exist-at-the-time-the-spoon-was-the-next-best/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) ## More by Siegfried Sassoon > [I believe that the purpose for which I and my fellow soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/i-believe-that-the-purpose-for-which-i-and-my-fellow-soldiers-entered/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [Who's this—alone with stone and sky? 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While nightfall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/december-stillness-teach-me-through-your-trees-that-loom-along-the/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/i-am-not-protesting-against-the-conduct-of-the-war-but-against-the/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [“Dim, gradual thinning of the shapeless gloom Shudders to drizzling daybreak that reveals Disconsolate men who stamp their sodden boots And turn dulled, sunken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/dim-gradual-thinning-of-the-shapeless-gloom-shudders-to-drizzling/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [“In 1917 I was only beginning to learn that life, for the majority of the population, is an unlovely struggle against unfair odds, culminating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/in-1917-i-was-only-beginning-to-learn-that-life-for-the-majority-of/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [“Phantoms of thought and memory thinned and fled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/phantoms-of-thought-and-memory-thinned-and-fled/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [Oh yes, I know the way to heaven was easy. We found the little kingdom of our passion that all can share who walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/oh-yes-i-know-the-way-to-heaven-was-easy-we-found-the-little-kingdom/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [“I keep such music in my brain No din this side of death can quell; Glory exulting over pain, And beauty, garlanded in hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/i-keep-such-music-in-my-brain-no-din-this-side-of-death-can-quell/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [And it's been proved that soldiers don't go mad Unless they lose control of ugly thoughts That drive them out to jabber among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/and-it-s-been-proved-that-soldiers-don-t-go-mad-unless-they-lose/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) [Explore all 65 Siegfried Sassoon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) ## 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. 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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": "The fact is that five years ago I was, as near as possible, a different person to what I am tonight. 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