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

“What happened then is in the past, I don’t really live in the past, I’m just present,” the 32-year-old Joshua said at a news conference in London on Wednesday.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2022

Their assignment was to stagnate and live in the past.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris