Growth is the only evidence of life.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
Grow we must, if we outgrow all that loves us.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Christian Theologian
What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.
—Abraham Maslow (1908–70) American Psychologist, Academic, Humanist
The path of least resistance is what makes rivers run crooked.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.
—Luther Burbank (1849–1926) American Botanist, Scientist
The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet
The artist is a collector of things imaginary or real. He accumulates things with the same enthusiasm that a little boy stuffs his pockets. The scrap heap and the museum are embraced with equal curiosity. He takes snapshots, makes notes and records impressions on tablecloths or newspapers, on backs of envelopes or matchbooks. Why one thing and not another is part of the mystery, but he is omnivorous.
—Paul Rand (1914–96) American Graphic Designer
Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) American Martial Artist, Actor, Philosopher
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If in the last few years you haven’t discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead.
—Gelett Burgess
The interval between the decay of the old and the formation and establishment of the new constitutes a period of transition which must always necessarily be one of uncertainty, confusion, error, and wild and fierce fanaticism.
—John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) American Head of State, Politician, Activist
Change is healthy and useful. It has to be fought for most of the time. It’s not inevitable. It takes real leadership and real effort. But I think it’s really important not to take yourself too seriously. Dwight Eisenhower used to have a rule that you should always take your job seriously but not yourself.
—Newt Gingrich (b.1943) American Politician
Our only security is our ability to change.
—John Lyly (1554–1606) English Dramatist, Novelist, Writer
You do not notice changes in what is always before you.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
Everything passes, everything perishes, everything palls.
—French Proverb
The wheel of change moves on, and those who were down go up and those who were up go down.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Change lays her hand not upon the truth.
—Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) English Poet, Novelist
The mill wheel turns, it turns forever, though what is uppermost remains not so.
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German Poet, Playwright, Theater Personality
We emphasize that we believe in change because we were born of it, we have lived by it, we prospered and grew great by it. So the status quo has never been our god, and we ask no one else to bow down before it.
—Carl Rowan (1925–2000) American Public Servant, Journalist, Author, Columnist
Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape.
—William S. Burroughs (1914–97) American Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Painter
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
—Anne Bradstreet (1612–72) English Poet
Force never moves in a straight line, but always in a curve vast as the universe, and therefore eventually returns whence it issued forth, but upon a higher arc, for the universe has progressed since it started.
—Kabbalah Teaching Jewish Mystical, Theosophical Tradition
Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer.
—Shunryu Suzuki (1904–71) Zen Buddhist Monk, Author
Man needs, for his happiness, not only the enjoyment of this or that, but hope and enterprise and change.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
People go through four stages before any revolutionary development:
1. It’s nonsense, don’t waste my time.
2. It’s interesting, but not important.
3. I always said it was a good idea.
4. I thought of it first.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change. So suffering must become love. That is the mystery.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
A little and a little, collected together, becomes a great deal; the heap in the barn consists of single grains, and drop and drop make the inundation.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (1184–1283) Persian Poet
The joy of life consists in the exercise of one’s energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal.
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) English Occultist, Mystic, Magician
He that never changes his opinion never corrects mistakes and will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Change always comes bearing gifts.
—Price Pritchett
Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes and I am left the same. The more things change the more I am the same. I am what I started with, and when it is all over I will be all that is left of me.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
More than anything else, I believe it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort — the opening, terror. Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing — the opening a wonderfully joyous moment.
—Andy Rooney (b.1919) American Writer, Humorist, TV Personality
The death of dogma is the birth of reality.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.
—W. Edwards Deming (1900–93) American Engineer, Statistician
Peak performers see the ability to manage change as a necessity in fulfilling their missions.
—Charles A. Garfield
The challenges of change are always hard. It is important that we begin to unpack those challenges that confront this nation and realize that we each have a role that requires us to change and become more responsible for shaping our own future.
—Hillary Rodham Clinton (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician
Irreverence ran on both sides of our family… my parents brought me up to think we could all change the world.
—Richard Branson (b.1950) British Entrepreneur
If you don’t get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don’t want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can’t hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is a law, and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
Sometimes we spend more time than we should defending the old thing, instead of working to take advantage of the new thing.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
By nature man hates change; seldom will he quit his old home till it has actually fallen around his ears.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear — kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor — with the cry of grave national emergency. Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it by furnishing the exorbitant funds demanded. Yet, in retrospect, these disasters seem never to have happened, seem never to have been quite real.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
You really can change the world if you care enough.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
It is not well to make great changes in old age.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) British Baptist Preacher, Theologian, Hymn writer
Risk always brings its own rewards: the exhilaration of breaking through, of getting to the other side; the relief of a conflict healed; the clarity when a paradox dissolves.
—Marilyn Ferguson (1938–2008) American Author, Editor, Orator
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. This, in turn, means that our statesmen, our businessmen, our every man must take on a science fictional way of thinking.
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
A woman’s mind is cleaner than a man s: She changes it more often.
—Oliver Herford (1863–1935) American Writer, Artist, Illustrator
Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist
Life is its own journey, presupposes its own change and movement, and one tries to arrest them at one’s eternal peril.
—Laurens van der Post (1906–96) South African-born British Political leader, Author, Educator, Journalist, Humanitarian
There are two kinds of fools. One says, “This is old, therefore it is good”. The other says, “This is new, therefore it is better”.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
A rolling stone can gather no moss.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
There is change in all things. You yourself are subject to continual change and some decay, and this is common to the entire universe.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The world moves, and ideas that were once good are not always good.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.
—C. William Pollard (b.1938) American Businessman
Change excites me. I am fifty years old. It’s when the mind catches up with the body.
—Raquel Welch (b.1940) American Actress, Singer
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
—Unknown
When you’re through changing, you’re through.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.
—Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86) French Philosopher, Writer, Feminist
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the The Past education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Christian Pastor, Author, Educator, Radio Personality
We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.
—R. D. Laing (1927–89) Scottish Psychiatrist
We accept the verdict of the past until the need for change cries out loudly enough to force upon us a choice between the comforts of further inertia and the irksomeness of action.
—Learned Hand (1872–1961) American Judge, Judicial Philosopher
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.
—Carl Rogers (1902–1987) American Psychologist
If you would civilize a man, begin with his grandmother.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
To act and act wisely when the time for action comes, to wait and wait patiently when it is time for repose, put man in accord with the rising and falling tides (of affairs), so that with nature and law at his back, and truth and beneficence as his beacon light, he may accomplish wonders. Ignorance of this law results in periods of unreasoning enthusiasm on the one hand, and depression on the other. Man thus becomes the victim of the tides when he should be their Master.
—Helena Blavatsky (1831–91) Ukrainian-born American Theosophist, Spiritual Leader, Philosopher, Mystic
Change is the only evidence of life.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) English Novelist, Humorist, Writer
Let the great world spin for ever down the ringing grooves of change.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring.
—Dodie Smith (1896–1990) British Novelist, Playwright, Writer
The world goes up and the world goes down, the sunshine follows the rain; and yesterday’s sneer and yesterday’s frown can never come over again.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order. Life refuses to be embalmed alive. The more prolonged the halt in some unrelieved system of order, the greater the crash of the dead society.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher, Logician
Too much consistency is as bad for the mind as for the body.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
The people who oppose your ideas the most are those who represent the establishment that your ideas will upset.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
Give wind and tide a chance to change.
—Richard Evelyn Byrd (b.1888) American Aviator, Explorer, Military Leader
The birds are moulting. If man could only moult also—his mind once a year it’s errors, his heart once a year it’s useless passions.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Everything changes but change.
—Israel Zangwill (1864–1926) British Humorist, Novelist, Writer
It is in changing that things find purpose.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Some people change their ways when they see the light; others when they feel the heat.
—Caroline Schoeder American Aphorist
In this world of change naught which comes stays and naught which goes is lost.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Christian Mystic
Little changes cost you. Big changes benefit you by changing the game, but only if you go first.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
The world’s a scene of changes, and to be Constant, in Nature were inconstancy.
—Abraham Cowley (1618–67) English Poet, Essayist
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
—Harriet Tubman (c.1820–1913) American Abolitionist, Social Reformer
A great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
My opinion is a view I hold until … well, until I find something that changes it.
—Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936) Italian Dramatist, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Author
To know what one can have and to do with it, being prepared for no more, is the basis of equilibrium.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Albert Einstein when asked what he considered to be the most powerful force in the universe answered: Compound interest! What you have become is the price you paid to get what you used to want.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
I recognize thart even you, yourself, will change. Your ideals will change, your tastes will change, your desires will change. Your whole understandings of who you are had better change, because if it doesn’t change, you’ve become a very static personality over a great many years, and nothing would displease me more. And so I recognize that the process of evolution will produce changes in you.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
It is done to you as you believe.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are. For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained. Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Change is the process by which the future invades our lives, and it is important to look at it closely, not merely from the grand perspectives of history, but also from the vantage point of the living, breathing individuals who experience it.
—Alvin Toffler (1928–2016) American Writer, Futurist
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels.
The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them.
Disagree with them. Glorify, or villify them.
But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things. They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world, are the ones who do.
—Unknown
The only difference between a rut and a groove is their dimensions.
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945) American Novelist
Things do not change, we change.
—Kalidasa Indian Sanskrit Poet, Dramatist
We were not taught financial literacy in school. It takes a lot of work and time to change your thinking and to become financially literate.
—Robert Kiyosaki (b.1947) American Businessperson, Author, Motivational Speaker
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Change is the end result of all true learning. Change involves three things: First, a dissatisfaction with self — a felt void or need; second, a decision to change to fill the void or need; and third, a conscious dedication to the process of growth and change — the willful act of making the change, doing something.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
Nonviolence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
A state of expectancy is a great assetl; a state of uncertainty—one moment thinking “perhaps” and the next moment thinking “I don’t know”—will never get desired results.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Everything changes but change itself. Everything flows and nothing remains the same…You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters and yet others go flowing ever on.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945) American Novelist
Status quo, you know, that is Latin for the mess we’re in.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.
—Richard Hooker (1554–1600) English Anglican Theologian, Political Theorist
Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago.
—Bernard Berenson (1865–1959) Russian-born American Art Historian
The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Whenever an individual or a business decides that success has been attained, progress stops.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
The atom, being for all practical purposes the stable unit of the physical plane, is a constantly changing vortex of reactions.
—Kabbalah Teaching Jewish Mystical, Theosophical Tradition
Change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
People don’t change. Only their costumes do.
—Gene Moore (1910–98) American Designer, Window Dresser
In all change, well looked into, the germinal good out-vails the apparent ill.
—Francis Thompson (1859–1907) English Poet, Ascetic
Where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
As the great Confucius said, “The one who would be in constant happiness must frequently change”. Flow. But we keep looking back, don’t we? We cling to things in the past and cling to things in the present…Do you want to enjoy a symphony? Don’t hold on to a few bars of the music. Don’t hold on to a couple of notes. Let them pass, let them flow. The whole enjoyment of a symphony lies in your readiness to allow the notes to pass…
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
The world is a scene of changes; to be constant in nature were inconstancy.
—Abraham Cowley (1618–67) English Poet, Essayist
We do not succeed in changing things according to our desire, but gradually our desire changes.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Clinging to the past is the problem. Embracing change is the answer.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
We change, whether we like it or not.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Someday change will be accepted as life itself.
—Shirley MacLaine (b.1934) American Actor, Dancer, Author, Activist
You will suddenly realize that the reason you never changed before was because you didn’t want to.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
The most unchangeable truth is change.
—Hans Taeger
I realized that if what we call human nature can be changed, then absolutely anything is possible. And from that moment, my life changed.
—Shirley MacLaine (b.1934) American Actor, Dancer, Author, Activist
The circumstances of the world are so variable, that an irrevocable purpose or opinion is almost synonymous with a foolish one.
—William H. Seward (1801–72) American Elected Representative, Lawyer, Politician, Activist
A path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you … Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself alone, one question … Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t it is of no use.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British Buddhist Philosopher, Writer, Speaker
Whenever you take a step forward, you are bound to disturb something. You disturb the air as you go forward, you disturb the dust, the ground. You trample upon things. When a whole society moves forward, this trampling is on a much bigger scale; and each thing that you disturb, each vested interest which you want to remove, stands as an obstacle.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State
As far as inner transformation is concerned, there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot transform yourself, and you certainly cannot transform your partner or anybody else. All you can do is create a space for transformation to happen, for grace and love to enter.
—Eckhart Tolle (b.1948) German Spiritual Writer, Public Speaker, Spiritual Teacher
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
—Margaret Mead (1901–78) American Anthropologist, Social Psychologist
Today is not yesterday. — We ourselves change. — How then, can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same. — Change, indeed, is painful, yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The issues are the same. We wanted peace on earth, love, and understanding between everyone around the world. We have learned that change comes slowly.
—Paul McCartney (b.1942) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician
So long as a person is capable of self-renewal, he is a living being.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Now, having seen the differences between where you are and where you want to be, begin to change—consciously change—your thoughts, words, and actions to match your grandest vision.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea.
—John Ciardi (1916–86) American Poet, Teacher, Etymologist, Translator
Change, not habit, is what gets most of us down; habit is the stabilizer of human society, change accounts for its progress.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside. We cannot open the gate of another, either by argument or emotional appeal.
—Marilyn Ferguson (1938–2008) American Author, Editor, Orator
Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back.
—Turkish Proverb
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
That’s the risk you take if you change: that people you’ve been involved with won’t like the new you. But other people who do will come along.
—Lisa Alther (b.1944) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
I was neurotic for years. I was anxious and depressed and selfish. Everyone kept telling me to change. I resented them and I agreed with them, and I wanted to change, but simply couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried. Then one day someone said to me, Don’t change. I love you just as you are. Those words were music to my ears: Don’t change, Don’t change. Don’t change … I love you as you are. I relaxed. I came alive. And suddenly I changed!
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
Man has a limited biological capacity for change. When this capacity is overwhelmed, the capacity is in future shock.
—Alvin Toffler (1928–2016) American Writer, Futurist
Man must be prepared for every event of life, for there is nothing that is durable.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Night has come! Leaning from the window, we gaze at the vast sombre stretch of the city below us, pierced with multitudinous points of light. Jeanne presses her hand to her forehead as she leans upon the window-bar, and seems a little sad. And I say to myself as I watch her: All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves: we must die in one life before we can enter into another!
And as if answering my thought, the young girl murmurs to me.
My guardian, I am so happy; and still I feel as if I wanted to cry!
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality, and will never, therefore, make any progress.
—Anwar el-Sadat (1918–81) Egyptian Head of State, Political leader
For me, the principal fact of life is the free mind. For good and evil, man is a free creative spirit. This produces the very queer world we live in, a world in continuous creation and therefore continuous change and insecurity. A perpetually new and lively world, but a dangerous one, full of tragedy and injustice. A world in everlasting conflict between the new idea and the old allegiances, new arts and new inventions against the old establishment.
—Joyce Cary (1888–1957) Irish Novelist, Artist
The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Life may change, but it may fly not; Hope may vanish, but can die not; Truth be veiled, but still it burneth; Love repulsed, — but it returneth.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Wherever we are, it is but a stage on the way to somewhere else, and whatever we do, however well we do it, it is only a preparation to do something else that shall be different.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Change almost never fails because it’s too early. It almost always fails because it’s too late.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.
—Harrison Ford (b.1942) American Actor
There is nothing permanent except change.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
People are very open-minded about new things — as long as they’re exactly like the old ones.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Today the world changes so quickly that in growing up we take leave not just of youth but of the world we were young in. Fear and resentment of what is new is really a lament for the memories of our childhood.
—Peter Medawar (1915–87) British Zoologist, Immunologist
All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something…almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
The search for static security — in the law and elsewhere — is misguided. The fact is security can only be achieved through constant change, adapting old ideas that have outlived their usefulness to current facts.
—William O. Douglas (1898–1980) American Judge
Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
It’s the most unhappy people who most fear change.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
The world does not have to change … The only thing that has to change is our attitude.
—Gerald Jampolsky
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today… Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
To hold the same views at forty as we held at twenty is to have been stupefied for a score of years, and take rank, not as a prophet, but as an unteachable brat, well birched and none the wiser.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Changes are not only possible and predictable, but to deny them is to be an accomplice to one’s own unnecessary vegetation.
—Gail Sheehy (b.1937) American Journalist, Writer
In a higher world it is otherwise; but here below to live is to change, and to be perfect is to change often.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
True consistency, that of the prudent and the wise, is to act in conformity with circumstances, and not to act always the same way under a change of circumstances.
—John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) American Head of State, Politician, Activist
Things do change. The only question is that since things are deteriorating so quickly, will society and man’s habits change quickly enough?
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
We are tomorrow’s past.
—Mary Webb (1881–1927) English Novelist, Poet, Writer
You change your life by changing your heart.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister