--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things change pretty rapidly. But they…" description: "\"Things change pretty rapidly. But they don't change inevitably. They change because you work for it.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/barack-obama-17_change_things-change-pretty-rapidly-but-they-do_753029.jpg" --- # Things change pretty rapidly. But they don't change… ![“Things change pretty rapidly. But they don't change inevitably. They change because you work for it.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/barack-obama-17_change_things-change-pretty-rapidly-but-they-do_753029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/barack-obama-17_change_things-change-pretty-rapidly-but-they-do_753029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/barack-obama-17_change_things-change-pretty-rapidly-but-they-do_753029.jpg) > “Things change pretty rapidly. But they don't change inevitably. They change because you work for it.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change is not automatic; it requires deliberate effort and proactive work. **In simple terms:** Change needs effort, not just time. Key Takeaway Actively shape desired outcomes. Themes change effort agency politics Mood inspirational determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - policy reform - community organizing - business innovation Key Concepts proactivity systemic inertia leadership Questions to Reflect On - What actions can we take to drive change? - Who holds responsibility for initiating effort? A Different Perspective Effort alone may not overcome structural barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Don't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-change/) [Things change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-change/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever I try to map things out they inevitably change. Which doesn't mean I don't map them out — I just try to embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/whenever-i-try-to-map-things-out-they-inevitably-change-which-doesn-t/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [If you talk about change but don't change the reward and recognition system, nothing changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allaire/if-you-talk-about-change-but-don-t-change-the-reward-and-recognition/) Paul Allaire > [I don't change. The things around me change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-don-t-change-the-things-around-me-change/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [People say to you, 'you've changed', or something like that, well, I hope, for the sake of God, that you have changed, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-say-to-you-you-ve-changed-or-something-like-that-well-i-hope/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think there are hard-liners inside of Iran that think it is the right thing to do to oppose us, to seek to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-there-are-hard-liners-inside-of-iran-that-think-it-is-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you can't change everything all at once, then at least work on changing something each day. Become aggressive in your battle with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-wilde/if-you-can-t-change-everything-all-at-once-then-at-least-work-on/) [Stuart Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-wilde/) > [A change of work is the best rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/a-change-of-work-is-the-best-rest/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [you cannot hope for change in others, you can only work toward it in yourself. And that's hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/you-cannot-hope-for-change-in-others-you-can-only-work-toward-it-in/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [If we begin to see how the gospel is able to change our work, it can have a profound effect on our sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kim/if-we-begin-to-see-how-the-gospel-is-able-to-change-our-work-it-can/) [David Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kim/) > [No one will give you change. You have to work for it. You have to earn it not by screaming, but by working hard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haifaa-al-mansour/no-one-will-give-you-change-you-have-to-work-for-it-you-have-to-earn/) Haifaa al-Mansour > [Anytime you adopt a new system you change work flow and so people have to change, to some degree change the way in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/anytime-you-adopt-a-new-system-you-change-work-flow-and-so-people/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [I can't change you and you can't change me, but together we can work to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/i-can-t-change-you-and-you-can-t-change-me-but-together-we-can-work/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [There're been sort of a sea change in my work in general, in that the more personal, the universal it's become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/there-re-been-sort-of-a-sea-change-in-my-work-in-general-in-that-the/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [There is so much work left to be done in the world and for me, I am hoping to make the change I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/there-is-so-much-work-left-to-be-done-in-the-world-and-for-me-i-am/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [Whatever people say, they are going to say and I can't change that. I can change how I work and how I take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/whatever-people-say-they-are-going-to-say-and-i-can-t-change-that-i/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things change pretty rapidly. 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