All that philosophers have done is interpret the world in different ways. It is our job to change it.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
The customs and fashions of men change like leaves on the bough, some of which go and others come.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be the first.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, 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
If you don’t create change, change will create you
—Unknown
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
Thought is cause: experience is effect. If you don’t like the effects in your life, you have to change the nature of your thinking.
—Marianne Williamson (b.1952) American Activist, Author, Lecturer
If we expended all our energies solely on taking care of our own needs we would stop growing. In that respect what we call “soul” can be viewed as the surplus energy that can be invested into change and transformation. As such, it is the cutting edge of evolution.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
The time is ripe, and rotten-ripe, for change; then let it come.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
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) English Pop Singer, Songwriter
There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Change is certain. Peace is followed by disturbances; departure of evil men by their return. Such recurrences should not constitute occasions for sadness but realities for awareness, so that one may be happy in the interim.
—I Ching Ancient Chinese Divination Text
Not everything you face in life can be changed, but you can change nothing until you have faced it.
—Unknown
Change is not only likely, it’s inevitable.
—Barbara Sher (1935–2020) American Career Coach
Never swap horses crossing a stream.
—U.S. Proverb
Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.
—Saul Alinsky (1909–72) American Community Organizer, Political Theorist
Change begets change. Nothing propagates so fast. If a man habituated to a narrow circle of cares and pleasures, out of which he seldom travels, step beyond it, though for never so brief a space, his departure from the monotonous scene on which he has been an actor of importance would seem to be the signal for instant confusion. The mine which Time has slowly dug beneath familiar objects is sprung in an instant; and what was rock before, becomes but sand and dust.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Let the great world spin for ever down the ringing grooves of change.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
All of life’s experiences are teachers in some sense, challenging us to grow and evolve. Although the Persecutor certainly provokes a reaction, the Challenger elicits a response by encouraging the Creator to acquire new knowledge, skill, or insight. Both roles provoke change, but in different ways.
—David Emerald
If you want to dig a big hole, you need to stay in one place.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Knowing what to do is very, very different than actually doing it.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
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
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-American Philosopher, Author
When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
If you want to make enemies, try to change something.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
The world is quite right. It does not have to be consistent.
—Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935) American Feminist, Writer
You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation: If you fall in the mud puddle, check your pockets for fish.
—Unknown
Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying.
—Nikki Giovanni (b.1943) American Poet, Writer, Activist, Educator