--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're old, don't try to change…" description: "\"If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.\" — B. F. Skinner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/b-f-skinner-4812_age_if-you-re-old-don-t-try-to-change-yourse_692430.png" --- # If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your… ![“If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.” quote by B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/b-f-skinner-4812_age_if-you-re-old-don-t-try-to-change-yourse_692430.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/b-f-skinner-4812_age_if-you-re-old-don-t-try-to-change-yourse_692430.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/b-f-skinner-4812_age_if-you-re-old-don-t-try-to-change-yourse_692430.png) > “If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.” [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing surroundings can be more effective than trying to alter deep‑seated habits. **In simple terms:** Environment shapes behavior more than willpower. Key Takeaway Adjust your setting to support desired change. Themes behavior environment change habit psychology Mood reflective practical Type advice psychology When to use this quote - workplace redesign - home organization - social circle - educational setting Key Concepts behaviorism reinforcement context Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your environment hinder your goals? - How can you redesign your space for success? A Different Perspective If the environment is already supportive, personal effort may still be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-environment/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [You can change environments, but until you change yourself, nothing else will ever change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/you-can-change-environments-but-until-you-change-yourself-nothing/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [You cannot change the environment, but you can change yourself. You cannot change who you are, but you can change your values and habits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-change-the-environment-but-you-can-change-yourself-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't try to change others , change yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/don-t-try-to-change-others-change-yourself/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“I came to the realisation that it was impossible to change my environment. I decided to try and change myself instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-morgan/i-came-to-the-realisation-that-it-was-impossible-to-change-my/) Sally Morgan > [Dont try to change the world; just change yourself. Why? Because the whole world is only relative to the eyes that are looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-try-to-change-the-world-just-change-yourself-why-because-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life can change anything, but try do change the change; then u will be achieved something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/life-can-change-anything-but-try-do-change-the-change-then-u-will-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [When you're growing up, the most important thing is to try to not change yourself too much. Be you, because everyone else is taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/when-you-re-growing-up-the-most-important-thing-is-to-try-to-not/) [Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/) > [Don't try to change yourself so much…, for a person worth so very little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-nathaniel-butler/don-t-try-to-change-yourself-so-much-for-a-person-worth-so-very-little/) [Eugene Nathaniel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-nathaniel-butler/) > [Don't try to change the world. First, change yourself or rather, your self-perception, and you find the world automatically corresponding to the level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/don-t-try-to-change-the-world-first-change-yourself-or-rather-your/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [Before you try to change others, remember how hard it is to change yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laine/before-you-try-to-change-others-remember-how-hard-it-is-to-change/) [Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laine/) > [Before You Try To Change Others, Just Remember How Hard It Is To Change Yourself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/before-you-try-to-change-others-just-remember-how-hard-it-is-to/) Pacifiersucker > [It changes everything when you accept who you are and you don't try to change yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaia-gerber/it-changes-everything-when-you-accept-who-you-are-and-you-don-t-try/) [Kaia Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaia-gerber/) > [I understand that you try to change, you change the manager. You try to change the dynamic of everything and you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javi-gracia/i-understand-that-you-try-to-change-you-change-the-manager-you-try-to/) [Javi Gracia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javi-gracia/) > [Nothing would change until you change yourself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sashalabetta/nothing-would-change-until-you-change-yourself/) SashaLabetta > [You can change yourself and you can change the situation but you absolutely cannot change other people. Only they can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-trollope/you-can-change-yourself-and-you-can-change-the-situation-but-you/) [Joanna Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-trollope/) ## More by B. F. Skinner > [To require a citizen to sign a loyalty oath is to destroy some of the loyalty he could otherwise claim, since any subsequent loyal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/to-require-a-citizen-to-sign-a-loyalty-oath-is-to-destroy-some-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A first principle not formally recognized by scientific methodologists: when you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-first-principle-not-formally-recognized-by-scientific/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The problem of far greater importance remains to be solved. Rather than build a world in which we shall all live well, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-problem-of-far-greater-importance-remains-to-be-solved-rather/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I remember when I was a freshman in college, I was still somewhat bothered by... worried... about religion. I remember going to this professor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-remember-when-i-was-a-freshman-in-college-i-was-still-somewhat/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Those who have had anything useful to say have said it far too often, and those who have had nothing to say have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/those-who-have-had-anything-useful-to-say-have-said-it-far-too-often/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I would be opposed to any kind of totalitarian control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-would-be-opposed-to-any-kind-of-totalitarian-control/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A disappointment is not generally an oversight. It might just be the best one can do the situation being what it is. The genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-disappointment-is-not-generally-an-oversight-it-might-just-be-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The simplest and most satisfactory view is that thought is simply behavior - verbal or nonverbal, covert or overt. It is not some mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-simplest-and-most-satisfactory-view-is-that-thought-is-simply/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/behavior-is-shaped-and-maintained-by-its-consequences/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The alphabet was a great invention, which enabled men to store and to learn with little effort what others had learned the hard way-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-alphabet-was-a-great-invention-which-enabled-men-to-store-and-to/) [B. F. 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Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Reinforcement is being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/reinforcement-is-being-right/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [To say that... behaviors have different 'meanings' is only another way of saying that they are controlled by different variables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/to-say-that-behaviors-have-different-meanings-is-only-another-way-of/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) [Explore all 105 B. F. Skinner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B. F. 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