---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Change still doth reign, and keep the…"
description: "\"Change still doth reign, and keep the greater sway.\" — Edmund Spenser"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png"
---

#  Change still doth reign, and keep the greater sway.

![“Change still doth reign, and keep the greater sway.” quote by Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png)

> “Change still doth reign, and keep the greater sway.”

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Power shifts continuously, with the dominant force maintaining control.

**In simple terms:** Power changes but the strong stay in charge.

Key Takeaway

Recognize shifting dynamics.

Themes

politics power change

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical historical

When to use this quote

- political campaigns
- corporate leadership
- social movements
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

hegemony social hierarchy historical cycles

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you navigate changing power structures?
- What can destabilize entrenched authority?

A Different Perspective

Power can be challenged by collective action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Reign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reign/)

## Related quotes

> [If God had sufficient wisdom and power to construct such a beautiful world as this, then we must admit that his wisdom and power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/if-god-had-sufficient-wisdom-and-power-to-construct-such-a-beautiful/)

[Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/)

> [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [The fact is that you're never gonna believe any of the reviews, because the movie is to you what it is to you. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-fact-is-that-you-re-never-gonna-believe-any-of-the-reviews/)

[Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/)

> [I'll probably sway towards Van Persie, but Van Nistelrooy is an absolute legend as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mctominay/i-ll-probably-sway-towards-van-persie-but-van-nistelrooy-is-an/)

[Scott McTominay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mctominay/)

> [Music is a very, very powerful tool that filmmakers use to sway people into emotions that they intend you to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ransone/music-is-a-very-very-powerful-tool-that-filmmakers-use-to-sway-people/)

[James Ransone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ransone/)

> [“Life surprises at every turn But it just wants you to learn You can't dictate how it should play For it will still take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laxmi-hichkad/life-surprises-at-every-turn-but-it-just-wants-you-to-learn-you-can-t/)

[Laxmi Hichkad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laxmi-hichkad/)

> ['Six Feet Under' was about repressing our deepest, most primal impulses, and 'True Blood' is about giving full sway to them all the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/six-feet-under-was-about-repressing-our-deepest-most-primal-impulses/)

[Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/)

> [One thing I've been thinking about is taking the social issues out of national politics. For example, if Georgia wanted abortion and Alabama didn't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/one-thing-i-ve-been-thinking-about-is-taking-the-social-issues-out-of/)

[Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/)

> [“Through synergy of intellect, artistry and grace came into existence the blessing of a dancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/through-synergy-of-intellect-artistry-and-grace-came-into-existence/)

[Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/)

> [“You aint got the answers sway”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye/you-aint-got-the-answers-sway/)

kanye

> [“Dance as the narration of a magical story; that recites on lips, illuminates imaginations and embraces the most sacred depths of souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/dance-as-the-narration-of-a-magical-story-that-recites-on-lips/)

[Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/)

> [It would be awesome to be so impressive that we could sway people to our way of thinking just by declaiming our thoughts, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/it-would-be-awesome-to-be-so-impressive-that-we-could-sway-people-to/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [“Burdened no more is soul for whom life flows through dance like breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/burdened-no-more-is-soul-for-whom-life-flows-through-dance-like-breath/)

[Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/)

> [If something is wrong, it'll prove to be wrong in the wash, and if it's right, you don't want to not expose yourself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-orci/if-something-is-wrong-it-ll-prove-to-be-wrong-in-the-wash-and-if-it-s/)

[Roberto Orci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-orci/)

> [See her gentle sway, a wave on the ocean could never move that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-tillotson/see-her-gentle-sway-a-wave-on-the-ocean-could-never-move-that-way/)

Johnny Tillotson

## More by Edmund Spenser

> [“All this world's glory seemeth vain to me, And all their shows but shadows, saving she.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-this-world-s-glory-seemeth-vain-to-me-and-all-their-shows-but/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [The merry cuckow, messenger of Spring, His trumpet shrill hath thrice already sounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-merry-cuckow-messenger-of-spring-his-trumpet-shrill-hath-thrice/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [All flesh doth frailty breed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-flesh-doth-frailty-breed/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [“The whiles some one did chaunt this louely lay; Ah see, who so faire thing doest faine to see, In springing flowre the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-whiles-some-one-did-chaunt-this-louely-lay-ah-see-who-so-faire/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [Fretting grief the enemy of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/fretting-grief-the-enemy-of-life/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [Make haste therefore, sweet love, whilst it is prime, For none can call again the passed time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/make-haste-therefore-sweet-love-whilst-it-is-prime-for-none-can-call/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [In one consort there sat cruel revenge and rancorous despite, disloyal treason and heart-burning hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/in-one-consort-there-sat-cruel-revenge-and-rancorous-despite-disloyal/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [Good is no good, but if it be spend, God giveth good for none other end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/good-is-no-good-but-if-it-be-spend-god-giveth-good-for-none-other-end/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [“There is nothing lost, but may be found, if sought. (No hay nada perdido, que no pueda encontrarse, si se lo busca)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/there-is-nothing-lost-but-may-be-found-if-sought-no-hay-nada-perdido/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [“It is the mynd, that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happie, rich or poore: For some, that hath abundance at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/it-is-the-mynd-that-maketh-good-or-ill-that-maketh-wretch-or-happie/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [Sweet breathing Zephyrus did softly play, A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay Hot Titan's beams, which then did glister fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sweet-breathing-zephyrus-did-softly-play-a-gentle-spirit-that-lightly/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [I was promised on a time To have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I received nor rhyme nor reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/i-was-promised-on-a-time-to-have-reason-for-my-rhyme-from-that-time/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [“For love is a celestial harmony Of likely hearts compos'd of stars' concent, Which join together in sweet sympathy, To work each other's joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/for-love-is-a-celestial-harmony-of-likely-hearts-compos-d-of-stars/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

> [Sleep after toil, port after stormy seas, Ease after war, death after life does greatly please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sleep-after-toil-port-after-stormy-seas-ease-after-war-death-after/)

[Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

[Explore all 186 Edmund Spenser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/)

## 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": "Change still doth reign, and keep the greater sway.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Edmund Spenser"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-greater-sway/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-greater-sway/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/edmund-spenser-2090_change_change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-gre_3143169.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Change still doth reign, and keep the greater sway.” — Edmund Spenser",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Edmund Spenser",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Change still doth reign, and keep...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-greater-sway/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/change-still-doth-reign-and-keep-the-greater-sway/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
