--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All we can hope for is that the thing is…" description: "\"All we can hope for is that the thing is going to slowly and imperceptibly shift. All I can say is that 50 years ago there were no such thing as enviro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/david-attenborough-2396_climate_all-we-can-hope-for-is-that-the-thing-is_2915908.jpg" --- # All we can hope for is that the thing is going to slowly… ![“All we can hope for is that the thing is going to slowly and imperceptibly shift. All I can say is that 50 years ago there were no such thing as environmental policies.” quote by David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/david-attenborough-2396_climate_all-we-can-hope-for-is-that-the-thing-is_2915908.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/david-attenborough-2396_climate_all-we-can-hope-for-is-that-the-thing-is_2915908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/david-attenborough-2396_climate_all-we-can-hope-for-is-that-the-thing-is_2915908.jpg) > “All we can hope for is that the thing is going to slowly and imperceptibly shift. All I can say is that 50 years ago there were no such thing as environmental policies.” [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change occurs gradually and often unnoticed, especially in ecological systems over time. **In simple terms:** Changes happen slowly and subtly. Key Takeaway Recognize slow shifts and adapt early. Themes environment change patience policy awareness Mood reflective concerned Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - climate activism - urban planning - business sustainability - personal lifestyle choices Key Concepts Ecology incrementalism policy evolution Questions to Reflect On - How can we detect subtle environmental trends? - What policies can anticipate slow shifts? A Different Perspective Gradual change can be hard to perceive, delaying action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [50 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/50-years/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental Policies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-policies-2464762/) [Going Slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-slowly-837972/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowly/) [Slowly Imperceptibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowly-imperceptibly-3218735/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverb/be-not-afraid-of-going-slowly-be-afraid-only-of-standing-still/) [Chinese Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverb/) > [Maybe I'm lucky to be going so slowly, because I may be going in the wrong direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/maybe-i-m-lucky-to-be-going-so-slowly-because-i-may-be-going-in-the/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [It's lucky you're going so slowly, because you're going in the wrong direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edward-housman/it-s-lucky-you-re-going-so-slowly-because-you-re-going-in-the-wrong/) [Alfred Edward Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edward-housman/) > [If you're going so fast, you can fast your destiny, but if you're going so slowly you'll never reach your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas-alobobo/if-you-re-going-so-fast-you-can-fast-your-destiny-but-if-you-re-going/) [Anas Alobobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas-alobobo/) > [“It takes a while. Slowly, almost imperceptibly over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/it-takes-a-while-slowly-almost-imperceptibly-over/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Slowly and imperceptibly old age comes creeping on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/slowly-and-imperceptibly-old-age-comes-creeping-on/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Environmental policies are driven by a kind of emotional spiritualism that threatens the very foundation of our society. There is increasing evidence of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-chenoweth-hage/environmental-policies-are-driven-by-a-kind-of-emotional-spiritualism/) [Helen Chenoweth-Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-chenoweth-hage/) > [Environmental policies are not just about good publicity; they are about responding to the moral imperative to address both climate change and resource depletion...A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-robins/environmental-policies-are-not-just-about-good-publicity-they-are/) [Toby Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-robins/) > [We need to make growth greener, to make our economic and environmental policies more compatible and even mutually-reinforcing. This is not just a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/we-need-to-make-growth-greener-to-make-our-economic-and-environmental/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [“I am evolving from being an animal,' he said. 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And when I look slow, I am smooth and going fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-prost/when-i-look-fast-i-m-not-smooth-and-i-am-going-slowly-and-when-i-look/) [Alain Prost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-prost/) > [The goal is not to simulate reality right now by going crazy. The goal is to prepare for reality by going slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rener-gracie/the-goal-is-not-to-simulate-reality-right-now-by-going-crazy-the-goal/) [Rener Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rener-gracie/) > [Through my films I'm eventually trying to one day tell the truth. I don't know if I'm ever going to get there, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/through-my-films-i-m-eventually-trying-to-one-day-tell-the-truth-i/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) ## More by David Attenborough > [I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-just-wish-the-world-was-twice-as-big-and-half-of-it-was-still/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I'm against this huge globalisation on the basis of economic advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-m-against-this-huge-globalisation-on-the-basis-of-economic-advantage/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/bringing-nature-into-the-classroom-can-kindle-a-fascination-and/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I don't approve of sunbathing, and it's bad for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-don-t-approve-of-sunbathing-and-it-s-bad-for-you/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I suspect that happiness is not a state but rather a transition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suspect-that-happiness-is-not-a-state-but-rather-a-transition/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I don't like rats, but there's not much else I don't like. 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I am perfectly able to go to Australia and film within three hours of arrival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suffer-much-less-than-many-of-my-colleagues-i-am-perfectly-able-to/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I'm not over-fond of animals. I am merely astounded by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-m-not-over-fond-of-animals-i-am-merely-astounded-by-them/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Television of course actually started in Britain in 1936, and it was a monopoly, and there was only one broadcaster and it operated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/television-of-course-actually-started-in-britain-in-1936-and-it-was-a/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [It's extraordinary how self-obsessed human beings are. 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