You just never know when you’re living in a golden age.

Meaning of the quote

The quote means that we often don't realize when we're living in a really great period of time until it's over. Just like a "golden age" is a time of prosperity and success, we might be experiencing something wonderful, but we won't know it until later. This is because it's hard to see how special a time is when you're actually living through it. The quote reminds us to appreciate the good things happening in our lives right now, because we may not realize how special they are until they're gone.

About Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne is an acclaimed American filmmaker known for his satirical depictions of contemporary American society. He has received numerous awards, including two Academy Awards, for co-writing the screenplays for Sideways and The Descendants. Payne has also been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on several films, including Nebraska.

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More quotes from Alexander Payne

I mean, look, I love movies, not just the ones I make… In fact, I don’t like the movies I make very much.

Alexander Payne

American film director, producer and screenwriter

A pitfall of making a comedy with a studio-and it’s also an American cultural thing-is that I get tired of being encouraged to go always for laughs.

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That’s how I like to do it with actors, have them really go for it and I’ll tell them when it’s too much. It’s always easier to bring it back then to push it further.

Alexander Payne

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Hollywood films have become a cesspool of formula and it’s up to us to try to change it… I feel like a preacher! But it’s really true. I feel personally responsible for the future of American cinema. Me personally.

Alexander Payne

American film director, producer and screenwriter

I think that Peter Jennings is the only decent one of the big three.

Alexander Payne

American film director, producer and screenwriter

I think a badly crafted, great idea for a new film with a ton of spelling mistakes is just 100 times better than a well-crafted stale script.

Alexander Payne

American film director, producer and screenwriter

You just never know when you’re living in a golden age.

Alexander Payne

American film director, producer and screenwriter

But it’s just that the whole country is making generally lousy films these days and has been for quite a while. That’s the big problem that we all have to think about.

Alexander Payne

American film director, producer and screenwriter