--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We who have lived before railways were…" description: "\"We who have lived before railways were made belong to another world. It was only yesterday, but what a gulf between now and then! Then was the old worl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_we-who-have-lived-before-railways-were-m_2098208.jpg" --- # We who have lived before railways were made belong to… ![“We who have lived before railways were made belong to another world. It was only yesterday, but what a gulf between now and then! Then was the old world. Stage-coaches, more or less swift, riding-horses, pack-horses, highwaymen, knights in armor, Norman invaders, Roman legions, Druids, Ancient…” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_we-who-have-lived-before-railways-were-m_2098208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_we-who-have-lived-before-railways-were-m_2098208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_we-who-have-lived-before-railways-were-m_2098208.jpg) > “We who have lived before railways were made belong to another world. It was only yesterday, but what a gulf between now and then! Then was the old world. Stage-coaches, more or less swift, riding-horses, pack-horses, highwaymen, knights in armor, Norman invaders, Roman legions, Druids, Ancient Britons painted blue, and so forth -- all these belong to the old period. But your railroad starts the new era, and we of a certain age belong to the new time and the old one. We who lived before railways, and survive out of the ancient world, are like Father Noah and his family out of the Ark.” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on how rapid technological change makes past lifestyles feel alien, likening pre‑railway people to survivors emerging from an ancient era into a new one. **In simple terms:** Old ways feel distant after new tech arrives. Key Takeaway Embrace change, but remember history. Themes progress history technology culture transition Mood reflective nostalgic Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - urban planning - heritage tourism - education about history - personal adaptation to tech - family storytelling Key Concepts industrial revolution social change temporal perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance nostalgia with progress? - What lessons can we learn from past societies? A Different Perspective It may romanticize the past, overlooking hardships of earlier eras. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-world/) [Another world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-world/) [Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ark/) [Armor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armor/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Britons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britons/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Druids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/druids/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Highwaymen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highwaymen/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Invaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invaders/) [Knights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knights/) [Legion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legion/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [New era](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-era/) [Now and then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now-and-then/) [Old Period](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-period-4180481/) [Old world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-world/) [Packs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/packs/) [Period Railroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/period-railroad-4180482/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Railroads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railroads/) [Railway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railway/) [Railways Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railways-belong-4180480/) [Railways Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railways-survive-4180483/) [Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riding/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [The kingly office is entitled to no respect. 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