Time flies like water, and there is no turning back. What does this sentence mean?

"Time flies like water, how can the years go back?" It means that time is gone forever, the past has passed, and only memories have not gone back. Therefore, as far as life is concerned, the years of youth slip away inadvertently, and there is no way to freeze, stop and start again.

On the whole, it is a philosophical statement. "Time flies like water" is a natural phenomenon. "There is no time to turn back." Is the corresponding philosophy of life. Like the literary metaphor of "life is like a dream", it emphasizes the truth that life is short!

Extended data

"Where is the ancient and modern? I didn't see Qin Shihuang in those days, and no matter how big the difficulties are, they are nothing in the face of a short and precious life, let alone be swayed by considerations of gain and loss. This is the open-minded realm of life.

When Su Shi was young, he was also high-spirited, enterprising and determined to "clarify the world". However, the Wutai poetry case made him stand on the brink of death. Perhaps when ghosts and gods knock on his door, Su Shi can truly appreciate and comprehend the value and significance of life.