--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It will not work to keep asking men to…" description: "\"It will not work to keep asking men to change. Many have no real objective to do so. There's no reward for them. Why should they change? They're doing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/ellen-ullman-3943_change_it-will-not-work-to-keep-asking-men-to-c_1866744.jpg" --- # It will not work to keep asking men to change. Many have… ![“It will not work to keep asking men to change. Many have no real objective to do so. There's no reward for them. Why should they change? They're doing well inside the halls of coding.” quote by Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/ellen-ullman-3943_change_it-will-not-work-to-keep-asking-men-to-c_1866744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/ellen-ullman-3943_change_it-will-not-work-to-keep-asking-men-to-c_1866744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/ellen-ullman-3943_change_it-will-not-work-to-keep-asking-men-to-c_1866744.jpg) > “It will not work to keep asking men to change. Many have no real objective to do so. There's no reward for them. Why should they change? They're doing well inside the halls of coding.” [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People resist change without clear incentives; expecting transformation without reward is futile. **In simple terms:** Change needs motivation and benefit. Key Takeaway Offer incentives to motivate change. Themes motivation change incentives Mood reflective critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - software teams - career development - performance reviews Key Concepts behavioral economics organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - What incentives could motivate programmers? - How can we align personal goals with organizational change? A Different Perspective People may lack desire even with incentives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-men-2548965/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-doing-286988/) [Coding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coding/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-change/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Be interesting. Tell the truth. And if you can’t tell the truth, change what you’re doing so you can. In other words, live the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-sachs/be-interesting-tell-the-truth-and-if-you-can-t-tell-the-truth-change/) [Jonah Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-sachs/) > [Change is the end result of all true learning. Change involves three things: First, a dissatisfaction with self - a felt void or need;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/change-is-the-end-result-of-all-true-learning-change-involves-three/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Take some bold steps of faith and change anything the Lord leads you to change. If what you are doing with your time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/take-some-bold-steps-of-faith-and-change-anything-the-lord-leads-you/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [When fear seizes, change what you are doing. You are doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-craighead-george/when-fear-seizes-change-what-you-are-doing-you-are-doing-something/) [Jean Craighead George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-craighead-george/) > [The protest that we go to or the time that we stand up for someone or do the right thing - despite its difficulty...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/the-protest-that-we-go-to-or-the-time-that-we-stand-up-for-someone-or/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [There are those people who try to change what you're doing. We don't like that. When we went into the studio for 'City of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/synyster-gates/there-are-those-people-who-try-to-change-what-you-re-doing-we-don-t/) [Synyster Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/synyster-gates/) > [If you're unhappy, you should change what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/if-you-re-unhappy-you-should-change-what-you-re-doing/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [Change what you are doing; change your world. And if enough people do that, we can change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/change-what-you-are-doing-change-your-world-and-if-enough-people-do/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [There was a time, in my early 20s, when I picked up the trumpet and said, 'I've got to change what I'm doing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smoker/there-was-a-time-in-my-early-20s-when-i-picked-up-the-trumpet-and/) [Paul Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smoker/) > [You will never or can never change where you are going until you change what you are doing, and you will never change what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/you-will-never-or-can-never-change-where-you-are-going-until-you/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [The great thing about the business is how Darwinian it is. We have to swim or die - if you are found wanting over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/the-great-thing-about-the-business-is-how-darwinian-it-is-we-have-to/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [How do you expect the world to change when all you are doing is helping to destroy it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-kohler/how-do-you-expect-the-world-to-change-when-all-you-are-doing-is/) [Autumn Kohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-kohler/) > [Now we're in the midst of not just advocating for change, not just calling for change - we're doing the grinding, sometimes frustrating work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-we-re-in-the-midst-of-not-just-advocating-for-change-not-just/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you don't like what you're getting, then change what you're doing. It's up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-croce/if-you-don-t-like-what-you-re-getting-then-change-what-you-re-doing/) [Pat Croce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-croce/) > [If you want to change the future, you must change what you're doing in the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-want-to-change-the-future-you-must-change-what-you-re-doing-in/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Ellen Ullman > [I think technical people now should learn literature, because literature teaches you a great deal about how - the depths and variety of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-think-technical-people-now-should-learn-literature-because/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [The web is just another stunning point in the two-hundred-thousand-year history of human beings on earth. The taming of fire; the discovery of penicillin;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-web-is-just-another-stunning-point-in-the-two-hundred-thousand/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [When I am writing, and occasionally achieve single focus and presence, I finally feel that is where I'm supposed to be. Everything else is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/when-i-am-writing-and-occasionally-achieve-single-focus-and-presence/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I don't know where anyone ever got the idea that technology, in and of itself, was a savior. Like all human-created 'progress,' computers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-don-t-know-where-anyone-ever-got-the-idea-that-technology-in-and-of/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [You can only get a beginner's mind once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/you-can-only-get-a-beginner-s-mind-once/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I'm a dark thoughts writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-m-a-dark-thoughts-writer/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I hate to see capable, smart people out of work - young or old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-hate-to-see-capable-smart-people-out-of-work-young-or-old/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [“I believed my motivations were clear: to help the patient see the pattern that had been imposed upon her, this endless repetition of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-believed-my-motivations-were-clear-to-help-the-patient-see-the/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [It had to happen to me sometime: sooner or later, I would have to lose sight of the cutting edge. That moment every technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/it-had-to-happen-to-me-sometime-sooner-or-later-i-would-have-to-lose/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Software and digital devices are imbued with the values of their creators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/software-and-digital-devices-are-imbued-with-the-values-of-their/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [ I've always written. I'm from an older generation of programmers \[who\] did not come out of engineering. \[A\]ll sorts of people were drawn in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-ve-always-written-i-m-from-an-older-generation-of-programmers-who/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Through the miracle of natural genetic recombination, each child, with the sole exception of an identical twin, is conceived as a unique being. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/through-the-miracle-of-natural-genetic-recombination-each-child-with/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Staring prejudice in the face imposes a cruel discipline: to structure your anger, to achieve a certain dignity, an angry dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/staring-prejudice-in-the-face-imposes-a-cruel-discipline-to-structure/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Y2K has challenged a belief in digital technology that has been almost religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/y2k-has-challenged-a-belief-in-digital-technology-that-has-been/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I don't consider myself a Jewish writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-jewish-writer/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) [Explore all 119 Ellen Ullman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "It will not work to keep asking men to change. 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