Laudator Temporis Acti

Augustine, Sermons 346C.1 (Angelo Mai, ed., Nova Patrum Bibliotheca, vol. I [Typis Sacri Consilii Propagando Christiano Nomini, 1852], p. 283; tr. Edmund Hill):

What unusual horror, brothers and sisters, is the human race enduring now, that our ancestors didn't have to endure? Or when do we have to endure such things as we know they endured? And you'll find people grumbling about their times, and saying that the times of our parents were good. Suppose, though, they could be whisked back to the times of their parents, they would still grumble even then. You see, the times in the past you think were good, were only good for the simple reason that they weren't your times.

Quid tale modo, fratres, genus humanum patitur insolitum, quod non patres passi sunt? aut quando talia patimur, qualia illos passos fuisse cognovimus? Et invenis homines murmurare de temporibus suis, et quod illa tempora bona fuerint parentum nostrorum. Quid, si possent revocari ad tempora parentum suorum, et ibi murmurarent. Quae enim putas tempora bona fuisse praeterita, quia iam non tua sunt, ideo bona sunt.