What does to author mean when he writes the good old times were not the good old times?

Answer 1

When the author writes that "the good old times were not the good old times," he suggests that nostalgia often romanticizes the past, overlooking its challenges and flaws. This statement implies that people tend to idealize earlier periods, forgetting the difficulties and struggles that existed during those times. It serves as a reminder to critically examine history rather than blindly glorifying it, highlighting that the present may also have its own merits and challenges.