In a technologically static world theres little or no expectation of change, thus people dont anticipate new things to be arriving as they have never seen that as the way the world flows. Prior to the modern era things stayed largely the same from generation to generation. A farmer, a baker or a shepard would be doing the same job in mostly the same that their parents did, or grand or great grand parents.

Broadly speaking futuristic speculative fiction started in the late 19th century. Most fiction before that was historical or contemporary in nature.

No we both observe change in motion throughout our lives, plus we read/view fiction which predicts change in the future. So its not unusual that we now grow to EXPECT change, we assume that its inexorable.

I make jokes to the kids that im disappointed that hover cars dont exist, my youngest insists she'll invent them for me. The assumption is that change will occur and speculative future fiction often invents items we would like to see. So I doubt the idea or saying has been around for more than a hundred years or two.