Powerful Quotes to Remind Us That the Past Is the Past

Sometimes we all need a gentle reminder that the past is in the past. And to not let it affect the here and now.

Whilst some people believe that you should never look back, others believe that our past experiences can be great fuel for our desired futures.

Either way, the past is in the past. Take what you can from it and if it doesn’t serve you well, then acknowledge that and move on.

 

 

Here are some powerful quotes to remind you to let go of the past. To take what we need from the experiences, mistakes and memories and to move forward in life.

The Past Quotes

 

“The past is a stepping stone, not a millstone.”

Robert Plant

 

 

 

“The past has no power over the present moment.”

Eckhart Tolle

 

 

“When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

 

 

 

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

John F. Kennedy

 

 

 

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

Buddha

 

 

“I like to use the hard times in the past to motivate me today.”

Dwayne Johnson

 

 

“The past is the beginning of the beginning and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn.”

H. G. Wells

 

 

 

“The past explains how I got here, but the future is up to me – and I love to live life at full throttle.”

Janice Dickinson

 

 

 

 

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

Bill Keane

 

 

 

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”

Thomas Jefferson

 

 

 

“Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.”

Robin Sharma

 

 

 

 

“A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives – of approving of some and disapproving of others.”

Charles Darwin

 

Quotes About The Past and Future

 

 

“I realise there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.”

Jeffrey McDaniel

 

 

 

 

“Hanging on to resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head.”

Ann Landers

 

 

 

“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”

Confucius

 

 

“What’s done is done.”

Hilliard MacBeth

 

 

 

“Forgiveness means letting go of the past.”

Gerald Jampolsky

 

 

“There is a fine balance between honoring the past and losing yourself in it. For example, you can acknowledge and learn from mistakes you made, and then move on and refocus on the now. It is called forgiving yourself.”

Eckhart Tolle

 

 

 

“The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities.”

Stephen Hawking

 

 

“I’m looking forward to the future and feeling grateful for the past.”

Mike Rowe

 

 

“I use memories, but I will not allow memories to use me.”

Deepak Chopra

 

 

 

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

Mother Theresa

 

 

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”

Rick Warren

 

 

 

“We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”

George Washington

 

 

“The past can’t hurt you anymore, not unless you let it.”

Alan Moore

 

 

 

“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.”

Unknown

Past Is Past Quotes

The saying “the past is in the past” helps to articulate the idea that whatever has happened before, is over and cannot be changed.

It suggests that we shouldn’t dwell on past events, mistakes, or experiences, as they are no longer relevant, or helpful, to what’s going on now. 

The emphasis is on the importance of focusing on the present and the future, rather than being held back or burdened by what has already transpired.

This phrase is often used to encourage letting go of old grievances, moving on from previous failures or setbacks, and embracing new opportunities without being weighed down by history. It’s a reminder that life moves forward, and so should our thoughts and actions:

 

“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” – Michael McMillan

“The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence; the past is a place of learning, not a place of living.” – Roy T. Bennett

“Forget the past.” – Nelson Mandela

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” – Thomas S. Monson

“No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of worrying can change the future.” – Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab

“Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau

 

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