The phrase “Laudator temporis acti” is derived from Latin, which roughly translates to “Praiser of times past” or “One who praises the times gone by.” It is generally used to describe individuals who have a strong emotional connection to the past and tend to idealize earlier periods in history. This phrase is often used in a negative or mocking way to refer to people who are excessively attached to the past and are resistant to change or progress.