Quote of the Day: Peter De Vries on Daily Inspiration

Peter De Vries built a career out of saying the uncomfortable thing in the most memorable way, turning sharp observation into bestselling fiction without losing his moral nerve. That kind of success requires a rare skill: seeing through comforting stories while still caring about the people who tell them. It’s the same clear-eyed tenderness behind his line, “Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.”

On the surface, it’s a joke with a perfect twist. Underneath, it’s a warning about how easily we outsource our energy to a past that never actually existed. Nostalgia can be a refuge, but it can also become a trap: a way of postponing hard conversations, new work, or fresh relationships because “things were better then.” De Vries reminds us that even our longing is shaped by the present, by our stress, our boredom, our unmet needs.

Use the quote as a diagnostic. When you catch yourself romanticizing an earlier season, ask: What value am I trying to recover, simplicity, belonging, purpose, play? Then pursue the value directly, instead of chasing the artifact. Call a friend for real connection. Create a small ritual to restore calm. Start a modest project that gives your day a spine. That’s agency: letting memory inform you, not command you. It’s also resilience in disguise, turning ache into action.

Peter De Vries earned lasting respect as an American novelist and humorist whose comic language carried real moral seriousness, from The Tunnel of Love onward. His wit works because it’s disciplined, trained on human nature, not just punchlines.

Today, do one practical thing: write down one “good old days” moment you’ve been replaying, then list two ingredients you can recreate in the next 24 hours, without the costume of the past. Carry the warmth forward, and let it become humor you can live with. May your memories bless you, and may your choices build something worth remembering.