--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yesterday people were permitted to change…" description: "\"Yesterday people were permitted to change things. They will be permitted to advocate changing them tomorrow. It is only dangerous to think of changing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg" --- # Yesterday people were permitted to change things. They… ![“Yesterday people were permitted to change things. They will be permitted to advocate changing them tomorrow. It is only dangerous to think of changing anything today.” quote by Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg) > “Yesterday people were permitted to change things. They will be permitted to advocate changing them tomorrow. It is only dangerous to think of changing anything today.” [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change is safest when it’s gradual; immediate overhaul feels threatening and may backfire. **In simple terms:** Gradual change feels safer than sudden overhaul. Key Takeaway Pursue incremental improvements. Themes change progress risk timing strategy Mood cautious motivational Type strategic reflective When to use this quote - policy reform - organizational restructuring - personal habit shifts Key Concepts incrementalism social dynamics psychology of fear Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today toward a larger goal? - How do you balance urgency with stability? A Different Perspective Rapid change can cause backlash or instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [I think because of social media and YouTube things are changing. Today people have a judgement about films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/i-think-because-of-social-media-and-youtube-things-are-changing-today/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [I like to change things up and feel comfortable to show my best performance. I think that's probably why I haven't stopped changing divisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-andrade/i-like-to-change-things-up-and-feel-comfortable-to-show-my-best/) [Jessica Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-andrade/) > [I hear them saying, "You'll never change things, and no matter what you do it's still the same thing." But it's not the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/i-hear-them-saying-you-ll-never-change-things-and-no-matter-what-you/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [When you're a black superhero, you can't erase the notion that you're black. If you're black, living in the community, and you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/when-you-re-a-black-superhero-you-can-t-erase-the-notion-that-you-re/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [When something doesn't go your way, never lose hope in Allah. That faith could be just enough for Him to change things around for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-something-doesn-t-go-your-way-never-lose-hope-in-allah-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always trying to change things - change my character, change my look, change my hair, change my facial hair, change my costumes, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-m-always-trying-to-change-things-change-my-character-change-my-look/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [You cannot change the things, so you don't need to stress if you're going to change them. So why complain? It looks so simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/you-cannot-change-the-things-so-you-don-t-need-to-stress-if-you-re/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I believe that prayer changes us and we change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-used-to-believe-that-prayer-changes-things-but-now-i-believe-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Simply having rules does not change the things that people want to do. You have to change incentives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/simply-having-rules-does-not-change-the-things-that-people-want-to-do/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [“Gandhi is best remembered for his adherence to the principle of nonviolence; but no less important was his adherence to non-demonization. Even when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/gandhi-is-best-remembered-for-his-adherence-to-the-principle-of/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [“why would white dudes want to change things when they held all the cards?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/why-would-white-dudes-want-to-change-things-when-they-held-all-the/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations ... is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/what-really-distinguishes-this-generation-in-all-countries-from/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“I’m not saying Jesus won’t come back; I’ve just decided I can’t keep hoping to be rescued from my life. Maybe it’s up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hartzler/i-m-not-saying-jesus-won-t-come-back-i-ve-just-decided-i-can-t-keep/) [Aaron Hartzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-hartzler/) > [“…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 > [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/) ## More by Elizabeth Hawes > [Women want to wear what they do because of what goes on in their heads. Their size and shape have practically nothing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/women-want-to-wear-what-they-do-because-of-what-goes-on-in-their/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [“paraphrashed :People wear what they wear because of what goes on in their heads...it has nothing to do with their size or shape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/paraphrashed-people-wear-what-they-wear-because-of-what-goes-on-in/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [The process of education is not generally a process of teaching people to think and ask questions. It ... is mostly one of teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/the-process-of-education-is-not-generally-a-process-of-teaching/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [It is impossible to be completely abstract about clothes because they have no life unless they are worn. They must fit onto a body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/it-is-impossible-to-be-completely-abstract-about-clothes-because-they/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [There is no word in English for chic. Why should there be? Everything chic is by legend French. Perhaps everything chic is in reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/there-is-no-word-in-english-for-chic-why-should-there-be-everything/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [rule number one for all American women: You are to be seen and felt, but not heard. Listen and do as you are told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/rule-number-one-for-all-american-women-you-are-to-be-seen-and-felt/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [After marriage, all things change. And one of them better be you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/after-marriage-all-things-change-and-one-of-them-better-be-you/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [If one is willing to have children, rhythm is probably the best method of contraception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/if-one-is-willing-to-have-children-rhythm-is-probably-the-best-method/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [Is woman a lost sex? If so, is she the only lost sex? Has woman alone conceived all the vipers in our land?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/is-woman-a-lost-sex-if-so-is-she-the-only-lost-sex-has-woman-alone/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [If you are the type who truly longs to be a Southern Belle at all times, regardless of taking twice the space available in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/if-you-are-the-type-who-truly-longs-to-be-a-southern-belle-at-all/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [The French legend is a very simple one. All really beautiful clothes are designed in the houses of the French couturiers and all women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/the-french-legend-is-a-very-simple-one-all-really-beautiful-clothes/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [One of the most fascinating things about the world of fashion is that practically no one knows who inhabits it or why it exists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/one-of-the-most-fascinating-things-about-the-world-of-fashion-is-that/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [All one really requires for putting anything over is enough energy and resistance to keep on plugging the idea. Someone will eventually fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/all-one-really-requires-for-putting-anything-over-is-enough-energy/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [There is a sound reason why one and a half billion dollars are spent for cosmetics in your country every year, and only half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/there-is-a-sound-reason-why-one-and-a-half-billion-dollars-are-spent/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) > [Fashion is that horrid little man with an evil eye who tells you that your last winter's coat may be in perfect physical condition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/fashion-is-that-horrid-little-man-with-an-evil-eye-who-tells-you-that/) [Elizabeth Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) [Explore all 25 Elizabeth Hawes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/) ## 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": "Yesterday people were permitted to change things. They will be permitted to advocate changing them tomorrow. It is only dangerous to think of changing anything today.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Hawes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-change-things-they-will-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-change-things-they-will-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/113/elizabeth-hawes-24031_change_yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-chang_2491357.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yesterday people were permitted to change things. They will be permitted to advocate changing them tomorrow…” — Elizabeth Hawes", "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": "Elizabeth Hawes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hawes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Yesterday people were permitted to change...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-change-things-they-will-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hawes/yesterday-people-were-permitted-to-change-things-they-will-be/#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 } } ] } ```