"The best time is always yesterday"

Tatyana Tolstaya's quote, "The best time is always yesterday", stimulates a sense of nostalgia and the human propensity to romanticize the past. At its core, this statement reflects how individuals often look back at previous times with fondness, believing that those minutes were somehow much better or more significant than the present. This inclination can come from a range of reasons, both mental and psychological.

Firstly, the past is concrete and known. Unlike the unsure future or the continuously unfolding present, the past is a collection of memories we have actually already experienced and endured. It offers a sense of security and certainty that today and future can not provide. Additionally, our memories are typically selectively biased, tending to gloss over unfavorable elements and highlighting positives, thus producing a rose-tinted view of "the other day.".

The quote also suggests the human propensity to yearn for what is irrevocably gone. This feeling of yearning is encapsulated in the principle of nostalgia, a bittersweet feeling that both delights and distresses us. We might keep in mind the joys of youth, the excitement of a first love, or a significant personal achievement, each carrying a weight of significance that seems unrivaled by our present experiences.

On a sociocultural level, Tolstaya's quote can likewise show collective memory and cultural fond memories. Societies typically idealize certain periods-- a "golden era"-- as durations of greatness and prosperity. These cumulative memories can influence contemporary attitudes and options, in some cases leading to the resistance of change or development as individuals try to maintain or go back to these idealized pasts.

However, there is an intrinsic risk in overvaluing the past. By thinking "the best time is always yesterday", we risk undervaluing the present and missing opportunities to produce significant experiences now. It can cultivate a sense of discontent or stagnation, as we may end up being too preoccupied with what was, instead of what might be.

In essence, while Tolstaya's quote elegantly catches the appeal of the past, it also works as a reminder to balance fond memories with present-mindedness, encouraging us to value the unfolding minutes and possibilities around us.