"You don't have to be old in America to say of a world you lived in: That world is gone"

This quote by Peggy Noonan talks to the concept of how quickly the world can change. It suggests that even if you are not old, you can still look back on a world that you once resided in and recognize that it is gone. This might be referring to a physical world, such as a place you used to live, or a metaphorical world, such as a period or a way of living. It implies that the world is constantly altering which it is very important to recognize and value the past, even if it is no longer present. This quote also speaks with the concept of nostalgia and how it can be an effective emotion. It suggests that even if you are not old, you can still look back on a previous world with fondness and longing.