--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You better start swimming, or you'll sink…" description: "\"You better start swimming, or you'll sink like a stone. Because the Time's they are a-changing.\" — Bob Dylan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/bob-dylan-168_change_you-better-start-swimming-or-you-ll-sink_581056.jpg" --- # You better start swimming, or you'll sink like a stone… ![“You better start swimming, or you'll sink like a stone. Because the Time's they are a-changing.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/bob-dylan-168_change_you-better-start-swimming-or-you-ll-sink_581056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/bob-dylan-168_change_you-better-start-swimming-or-you-ll-sink_581056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/bob-dylan-168_change_you-better-start-swimming-or-you-ll-sink_581056.jpg) > “You better start swimming, or you'll sink like a stone. Because the Time's they are a-changing.” [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You must act quickly or risk being left behind as circumstances evolve rapidly. **In simple terms:** Act now or be left behind. Key Takeaway Take decisive action before change overtakes you. Themes change urgency action Mood urgent motivational Type musical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - financial decisions - health habits - skill learning Key Concepts adaptation time pressure self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - What changes are you ignoring? - How can you prepare for inevitable shifts? A Different Perspective Rapid change can overwhelm those who hesitate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing/) [Drowning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning/) [Ll Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-sink-3584497/) [Sink Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sink-like-1468457/) [Start Swimming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-swimming-462355/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Swimming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swimming/) [Time Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-changing-1849165/) ## Related quotes > [The times are a-changing and if we don't we will sink like a stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-times-are-a-changing-and-if-we-don-t-we-will-sink-like-a-stone/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [There's something about it to me, the feeling of the water, and feeling, I don't know, equal, and like everyone else. Which is kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/there-s-something-about-it-to-me-the-feeling-of-the-water-and-feeling/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Do you want to understand how to swim, or do you want to jump in and start swimming? Only people who are afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/do-you-want-to-understand-how-to-swim-or-do-you-want-to-jump-in-and/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [A book is kind of like a river; I simply jump in and start swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/a-book-is-kind-of-like-a-river-i-simply-jump-in-and-start-swimming/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [“Tomorrow night, I'll sink to an all new low! Lemme rephrase that... Tomorrow night, I'll be at rock bottom! No, that doesn't sound good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/tomorrow-night-i-ll-sink-to-an-all-new-low-lemme-rephrase-that/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [You bring me down, I will have known it all along and I'll sink just like a stone without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalah-hathaway/you-bring-me-down-i-will-have-known-it-all-along-and-i-ll-sink-just/) [Lalah Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalah-hathaway/) > [What we’ve got to do is keep hope alive. Because without it we’ll sink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/what-we-ve-got-to-do-is-keep-hope-alive-because-without-it-we-ll-sink/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“im eaisly influenced by others Do's and Don'ts. How can they bring me up so high, an sink me down like a stone?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-steele/im-eaisly-influenced-by-others-do-s-and-don-ts-how-can-they-bring-me/) [Cassie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-steele/) > [Yo, is it ironic, this gal, a wine like a bionic? Mi mack it, mi cock it, I sink it like a Titanic. Dump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beenie-man/yo-is-it-ironic-this-gal-a-wine-like-a-bionic-mi-mack-it-mi-cock-it-i/) [Beenie Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beenie-man/) > [I started to sink like the moon tends to do if you stare at it too long Then you blink and it's gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-started-to-sink-like-the-moon-tends-to-do-if-you-stare-at-it-too/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I don't want to be the same all the time and changing my hair is loads of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-solomon/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-same-all-the-time-and-changing-my-hair-is/) [Stacey Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-solomon/) > [When you look into the mirror now, it takes you awhile to recognize yourself... For so much has happened in a single minute...day...week... Time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellia-renee/when-you-look-into-the-mirror-now-it-takes-you-awhile-to-recognize/) [Ellia\_renee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellia-renee/) > [All the time I'm changing as an artist and as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-mae/all-the-time-i-m-changing-as-an-artist-and-as-a-person/) [Vanessa Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-mae/) > [“Everything,' his father said, 'comes down to time in the end--to the passing of time, to changing. Ever thought of that? Anything that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/everything-his-father-said-comes-down-to-time-in-the-end-to-the/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [Midlife is a time of explosive change, when our hormones rampage and our bodies alter, forcing us into a whole new chapter of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-garraway/midlife-is-a-time-of-explosive-change-when-our-hormones-rampage-and/) [Kate Garraway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-garraway/) ## More by Bob Dylan > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Don't forget to support your public library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/don-t-forget-to-support-your-public-library/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [You don't count the dead, when god's on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/you-don-t-count-the-dead-when-god-s-on-your-side/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [She makes love just like a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-makes-love-just-like-a-woman/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Silvio, I gotta go, find out something only dead men know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/silvio-i-gotta-go-find-out-something-only-dead-men-know/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I don't really have a retirement plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-don-t-really-have-a-retirement-plan/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Just a reminder, if you tell anyone about what happened with Jonah last night, I'll destroy all of my writing and never play music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/just-a-reminder-if-you-tell-anyone-about-what-happened-with-jonah/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Little red wagon, little red bike, I ain’t no monkey but I know what I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/little-red-wagon-little-red-bike-i-ain-t-no-monkey-but-i-know-what-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift - look out out kid, they keep it all hid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/twenty-years-of-schooling-and-they-put-you-on-the-day-shift-look-out/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The drunken politician leaps upon the street where mothers weep, and the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-drunken-politician-leaps-upon-the-street-where-mothers-weep-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I gotta friend who spends his life, stabbing my picture with a bowie knife. Dreams of strangling me with a scarf, when my name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-gotta-friend-who-spends-his-life-stabbing-my-picture-with-a-bowie/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [She speaks with a stutter and she and she walks with a hop. I don't know why I love her, but I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-speaks-with-a-stutter-and-she-and-she-walks-with-a-hop-i-don-t/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The man in the coon skin cap in the pig pen wants eleven dollar bills, you've only got ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-man-in-the-coon-skin-cap-in-the-pig-pen-wants-eleven-dollar-bills/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Don't put my faith in nobody, not even a scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/don-t-put-my-faith-in-nobody-not-even-a-scientist/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) [Explore all 1,018 Bob Dylan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "You better start swimming, or you'll sink like a stone. 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