live in the past

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I remember,” Madsen said, “what George Mumford would always say, our team psychologist: ‘Don’t live in the past, don’t live in the future, only live in the present.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

When the time comes, these words from Ms. Antonetta will merit consideration: “Programs of euthanasia and sterilization don’t just live in the past, terrible but finished. Their aftershocks are terrible and here.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

"A season like that is something amazing and rare. Sure, I would love to do it again but it's not advantageous to live in the past."

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2023

But on the other hand, I don’t want to live in the past.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2022

But you can’t live in the past; you can only visit.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson