Historical Quotes About Change
Change, the ever-present force shaping our world, has captivated minds and inspired countless words throughout history. These historical quotes offer a glimpse into the diverse perspectives on change, reminding us of its inevitability, power, and potential for both progress and upheaval.
Here are 30+ historical quotes about change:
- “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.” – Carl Rogers (20th Century, American Psychologist)
- “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy (20th Century, American President)
- “A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins (20th Century, American Businessman)
- “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha (5th-4th Century BCE, Indian Spiritual Teacher)
- “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead (20th Century, American Anthropologist)
- “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” – Albert Einstein (20th Century, German-born Theoretical Physicist)
- “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill (20th Century, British Prime Minister)
- “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama (21st Century, American President)
- “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” – Anatole France (19th-20th Century, French Writer)
- “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw (19th-20th Century, Irish Playwright)
- “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy
- “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
- “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama
- “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
- “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” – Norman Vincent Peale
- “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” – Albert Einstein
- “Change is inevitable. Change is constant.” – Benjamin Disraeli
- “Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.” – Simone de Beauvoir
- “He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.” – Harold Wilson
- “The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.” – Bill Clinton
- “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill
- “Change is the end result of all true learning.” – Leo Buscaglia
- “Change before you have to.” – Jack Welch
- “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
- “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Lao Tzu
- “Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.” – Jack Canfield
- “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao Tzu
- “Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.” – Stephen Chbosky
- “Change is not merely necessary to life, it is life.” – Alvin Toffler
- “The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” – Kakuzo Okakura
- “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.” – Woodrow Wilson
- “One key to successful leadership is continuous personal change. Personal change is a reflection of our inner growth and empowerment.” – Robert E. Quinn
- “All great changes are preceded by chaos.” – Deepak Chopra
These historical quotes offer a diverse range of perspectives on change, emphasizing its inevitability, power, and potential for both progress and challenge. May they inspire you to embrace change with open arms, cultivate a growth mindset, and contribute to a future filled with positive transformation.