Past and to come, seems best; things present, worse

Past and to come, seems best; things present, worse

The quote "Past and to come, seems best; things present, worse" is from William Shakespeare's play "Henry IV, Part 2." This line is spoken by the character John of Gaunt in Act 2, Scene 3. In this scene, John of Gaunt is reflecting on the passage of time and the changes that have occurred in the world around him.

The quote captures the sentiment that people often look back on the past with nostalgia and look forward to the future with hope, while finding the present to be lacking. This idea is a common theme in Shakespeare's works, as he often explores the complexities of human nature and the passage of time.