--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idle to pretend that we have lost…" description: "\"“Idle to pretend that we have lost paradise. We never had it; it is still to make.”\" — Susan Ertz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/susan-ertz-36411_change_idle-to-pretend-that-we-have-lost-paradi_3018061.png" --- # Idle to pretend that we have lost paradise. We never had… ![“Idle to pretend that we have lost paradise. We never had it; it is still to make.” quote by Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/susan-ertz-36411_change_idle-to-pretend-that-we-have-lost-paradi_3018061.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/susan-ertz-36411_change_idle-to-pretend-that-we-have-lost-paradi_3018061.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30e/susan-ertz-36411_change_idle-to-pretend-that-we-have-lost-paradi_3018061.png) > ““Idle to pretend that we have lost paradise. We never had it; it is still to make.”” [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We romanticize a lost paradise that never existed, yet we can still create a better future. **In simple terms:** We chase an imagined lost paradise. Key Takeaway Focus on building, not longing. Themes hope creation illusion Mood optimistic determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal goals - societal progress - environmental action Key Concepts utopia future building Questions to Reflect On - What future can you actively shape? - How does letting go of imagined loss empower you? A Different Perspective Idealizing the past can hinder present action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Lost Paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-paradise/) [Paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [Before I got here, I thought for a long time that the way out of the labyrinth was to pretend that it did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/before-i-got-here-i-thought-for-a-long-time-that-the-way-out-of-the-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Before I got here, I thought that the way out of the labyrinth was to pretend that it didn't exist, to build a small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/before-i-got-here-i-thought-that-the-way-out-of-the-labyrinth-was-to/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [You couldn't pretend you had lost nothing... you had to begin there, not let your blood freeze over. If your heart turned away at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/you-couldn-t-pretend-you-had-lost-nothing-you-had-to-begin-there-not/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [The Revolutionary's Utopia, which in appearance represents a complete break with the past, is always modeled on some image of the Lost Paradise, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-revolutionary-s-utopia-which-in-appearance-represents-a-complete/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Travel is seeking the lost paradise. It is the supreme illusion of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/travel-is-seeking-the-lost-paradise-it-is-the-supreme-illusion-of-love/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Any love is a home-sickness, a longing for a lost paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-klein/any-love-is-a-home-sickness-a-longing-for-a-lost-paradise/) [Jean Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-klein/) > [Almost all serious stories in the world are stories of failure with a death in it. But there is more lost paradise in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/almost-all-serious-stories-in-the-world-are-stories-of-failure-with-a/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [In the history of humanity there are no civilizations or cultures which fail to manifest, in one or a thousand ways, this need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/in-the-history-of-humanity-there-are-no-civilizations-or-cultures/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-read-descriptions-of-paradise-that-would-make-any-sensible/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The wine they drink in Paradise They make in Haute Lorraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-wine-they-drink-in-paradise-they-make-in-haute-lorraine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't live in paradise—but you are living right here. Make this your paradise or make this your hell. The choice is entirely yours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/you-can-t-live-in-paradise-but-you-are-living-right-here-make-this/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Paradise is for those who make paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/paradise-is-for-those-who-make-paradise/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Where we are would be Paradise to me, if you would only make it so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/where-we-are-would-be-paradise-to-me-if-you-would-only-make-it-so/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“The tragedy of my species xxx is that it does not live in its own time. Homo sapiens is locked on history's rearview mirror,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-morrow/the-tragedy-of-my-species-xxx-is-that-it-does-not-live-in-its-own/) [James K. Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-morrow/) > [“In childhood, you long to grow up fast because older people are more powerful, young men more powerful. A child just longs to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/in-childhood-you-long-to-grow-up-fast-because-older-people-are-more/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) ## More by Susan Ertz > [One's own troubles can be borne with fortitude; only a monster of indifference can bear the sufferings of others with fortitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/one-s-own-troubles-can-be-borne-with-fortitude-only-a-monster-of/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [All dogs seem to be great linguists, according to their owners. They always understand every word that's said to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/all-dogs-seem-to-be-great-linguists-according-to-their-owners-they/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [He talked with more claret than clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/he-talked-with-more-claret-than-clarity/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/millions-long-for-immortality-who-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Crises have a way of thrusting into the limelight hitherto obscure persons, and giving them, for a long or short period, a leading role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/crises-have-a-way-of-thrusting-into-the-limelight-hitherto-obscure/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [The novelists of the nineteeth century had all the luck. They had a huge and easily pleased public and the world they surveyed had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/the-novelists-of-the-nineteeth-century-had-all-the-luck-they-had-a/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [“It was never built for the comfort and happiness of its citizens, but to astonish the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/it-was-never-built-for-the-comfort-and-happiness-of-its-citizens-but/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Someone has somewhere commented on the fact that millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/someone-has-somewhere-commented-on-the-fact-that-millions-long-for/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Laura Alicia Deverell was born on May 10th, 1862, at precisely a quarter past one o'clock on a Thursday morning. Those interested in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/laura-alicia-deverell-was-born-on-may-10th-1862-at-precisely-a/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Boredom comes simply from ignorance and lack of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/boredom-comes-simply-from-ignorance-and-lack-of-imagination/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Parsons always seem to be specially horrified about things like sunbathing and naked bodies. They don't mind poverty and misery and cruelty to animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/parsons-always-seem-to-be-specially-horrified-about-things-like/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [“المضحك أن ملايين ممن يتمنون الخلود لا يجدون ما يفعلونه في أوقات فراغهم !! (سوزان أرتز) Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves in their weekend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/millions-long-for-immortality-who-do-not-know-what-to-do-with/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) [Explore all 13 Susan Ertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) ## 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": "“Idle to pretend that we have lost paradise. 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