--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The current paradigm is so thoroughly…" description: "\"The current paradigm is so thoroughly established that the only way to change is to start over again.\" — Donald A. Norman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/donald-a-norman-6862_currents_the-current-paradigm-is-so-thoroughly-es_2617227.jpg" --- # The current paradigm is so thoroughly established that the… ![“The current paradigm is so thoroughly established that the only way to change is to start over again.” quote by Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/donald-a-norman-6862_currents_the-current-paradigm-is-so-thoroughly-es_2617227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/donald-a-norman-6862_currents_the-current-paradigm-is-so-thoroughly-es_2617227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/donald-a-norman-6862_currents_the-current-paradigm-is-so-thoroughly-es_2617227.jpg) > “The current paradigm is so thoroughly established that the only way to change is to start over again.” [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a system is deeply entrenched, meaningful change often requires a complete reset rather than incremental tweaks. **In simple terms:** Deeply entrenched systems need a fresh start to change. Key Takeaway Consider starting over to break old habits. Themes change systems reset Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - product redesign - organizational change - personal habits Key Concepts design thinking system inertia paradigm shift Questions to Reflect On - What would a fresh start look like for your biggest challenge? - Is a reset always necessary? A Different Perspective A complete overhaul can be costly and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Paradigm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigm/) [Starting over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-over/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to take a stand against what I think was not so well established then but is thoroughly well established now, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-porter/i-wanted-to-take-a-stand-against-what-i-think-was-not-so-well/) [Peter Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-porter/) > [“Part of our current paradigm is that bad stuff in the environment causes cancer, and the more enlightened elements involved in the war on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/part-of-our-current-paradigm-is-that-bad-stuff-in-the-environment/) [T. 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Start by keeping a small promise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-telford/change-start-by-keeping-a-small-promise/) [Jill Telford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-telford/) > [“If you think you have the power to change someone, why not start from yourself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ela-crain/if-you-think-you-have-the-power-to-change-someone-why-not-start-from/) [Ela Crain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ela-crain/) > [If you want to make a change start from yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/if-you-want-to-make-a-change-start-from-yourself/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Change. But start slowly, because direction is more important than speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/change-but-start-slowly-because-direction-is-more-important-than-speed/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [If you want to change something. Then start changing it right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/if-you-want-to-change-something-then-start-changing-it-right-now/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Things may change but, we start and end with family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/things-may-change-but-we-start-and-end-with-family/) Author Name > [Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-brandt/other-things-may-change-us-but-we-start-and-end-with-the-family/) [Anthony Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-brandt/) > [Other things may change us, but we start and end with family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/other-things-may-change-us-but-we-start-and-end-with-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“change. They start by asking: In order to improve our”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-horwath/change-they-start-by-asking-in-order-to-improve-our/) Rich Horwath > [You know, some things you can't change, but you can start from the youth to change the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/you-know-some-things-you-can-t-change-but-you-can-start-from-the/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [But a risk-free life wasn't much of a life, really, and if she was going to change, she might as well start now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/but-a-risk-free-life-wasn-t-much-of-a-life-really-and-if-she-was/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Maybe if you want things to change, you should start in yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/maybe-if-you-want-things-to-change-you-should-start-in-yourself/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by Donald A. Norman > [“key to winning the race is not to compete against machines but to compete with machines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/key-to-winning-the-race-is-not-to-compete-against-machines-but-to/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [ Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. \[...\] The advent of hypertext is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/hypertext-makes-a-virtue-out-of-lack-of-organization-allowing-ideas/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [We delude ourselves if we believe that skilled behavior is easy, that it can come about without effort. We forget the years of tuning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/we-delude-ourselves-if-we-believe-that-skilled-behavior-is-easy-that/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [“Could we ever switch to this or any of the many other rational systems? Unlikely: tradition is difficult to overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/could-we-ever-switch-to-this-or-any-of-the-many-other-rational/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [People Propose, Science Studies, Technology Conforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/people-propose-science-studies-technology-conforms/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [“If designers and researchers do not sometimes fail, it is a sign that they are not trying hard enough—they are not thinking the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/if-designers-and-researchers-do-not-sometimes-fail-it-is-a-sign-that/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [What makes something simple or complex? 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