--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: why should I seek to change, what has…" description: "\"“why should I seek to change, what has been so precious to me for so long! you can never show better than as your own natural self”\" — Charles Dickens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/charles-dickens-34_change_why-should-i-seek-to-change-what-has-bee_2534396.jpg" --- # why should I seek to change, what has been so precious to… ![“why should I seek to change, what has been so precious to me for so long! you can never show better than as your own natural self” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/charles-dickens-34_change_why-should-i-seek-to-change-what-has-bee_2534396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/charles-dickens-34_change_why-should-i-seek-to-change-what-has-bee_2534396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/charles-dickens-34_change_why-should-i-seek-to-change-what-has-bee_2534396.jpg) > ““why should I seek to change, what has been so precious to me for so long! you can never show better than as your own natural self”” [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges acceptance of one's innate nature, suggesting that trying to change what is deeply personal may be futile and unnecessary. **In simple terms:** Accept yourself as you are. Key Takeaway Embrace your natural self. Themes self-acceptance identity authenticity Mood reflective conflicted Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationship counseling - career decisions - cultural identity - mental health Key Concepts Existentialism self-actualization Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself are you resisting change? - When is staying true to yourself harmful? 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Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mrs-joe-was-a-very-clean-housekeeper-but-had-an-exquisite-art-of/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“evening, they began to think that although he could never hope to be an Englishman, still it would be hard to visit that affliction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/evening-they-began-to-think-that-although-he-could-never-hope-to-be/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Besides which, all that I could have said of the Story to any purpose, I had endeavoured to say in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/besides-which-all-that-i-could-have-said-of-the-story-to-any-purpose/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The wheels rolled on, and rolled down by the Monument, and by the Tower; and by the Docks; down by Ratcliffe, and by Rotherhithe;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-wheels-rolled-on-and-rolled-down-by-the-monument-and-by-the-tower/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge, with three flourishes. 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