--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We used to think that revolutions are the…" description: "\"We used to think that revolutions are the cause of change. Actually it is the other way around: change prepares the ground for revolution.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/eric-hoffer-343_change_we-used-to-think-that-revolutions-are-th_2009795.jpg" --- # We used to think that revolutions are the cause of change… ![“We used to think that revolutions are the cause of change. Actually it is the other way around: change prepares the ground for revolution.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/eric-hoffer-343_change_we-used-to-think-that-revolutions-are-th_2009795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/eric-hoffer-343_change_we-used-to-think-that-revolutions-are-th_2009795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/eric-hoffer-343_change_we-used-to-think-that-revolutions-are-th_2009795.jpg) > “We used to think that revolutions are the cause of change. Actually it is the other way around: change prepares the ground for revolution.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change creates conditions that enable revolutions, not the reverse. **In simple terms:** Change precedes revolutions. Key Takeaway Recognize and shape change before expecting upheaval. Themes change revolution causality Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - political movements - social reforms - organizational change - personal growth Key Concepts systems theory historical dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster change to prevent disruptive revolutions? - What signs indicate change is ready for a revolution? A Different Perspective Revolutions can still arise without prior change if catalysts emerge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutions/) ## Related quotes > [Do you think Revolutions are made with rose water?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bond-head/do-you-think-revolutions-are-made-with-rose-water/) Francis Bond Head > [In your late teens and early twenties, everything is idealism. Everything should just work in black and white. That's good. You need that. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/in-your-late-teens-and-early-twenties-everything-is-idealism/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I laid my hand on top of theirs, and all I could think was, Is this how revolutions begin? Not with a proclamation or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-laid-my-hand-on-top-of-theirs-and-all-i-could-think-was-is-this-how/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Do you think that revolutions are made with rose water?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/do-you-think-that-revolutions-are-made-with-rose-water/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Studying consciousness tells us more about how the world is fundamentally strange. I think we have a few revolutions to go yet before we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chalmers/studying-consciousness-tells-us-more-about-how-the-world-is/) [David Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chalmers/) > [People can live without a giant state. We've proven that already. But a giant state cannot live without dependent people. We feed the beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-whittle/people-can-live-without-a-giant-state-we-ve-proven-that-already-but-a/) [Bill Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-whittle/) > [Music used to cause revolutions and I'm not seeing much revolution anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/music-used-to-cause-revolutions-and-i-m-not-seeing-much-revolution/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [People who change after change, will survive. People who change with the change, will succeed. People who cause the change, will lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-change-after-change-will-survive-people-who-change-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think we're at a time where people just want to join together and cause change. People don't want to live like this any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-think-we-re-at-a-time-where-people-just-want-to-join-together-and/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Don't try to change others cause Change starts with oõ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-sampson/don-t-try-to-change-others-cause-change-starts-with-o/) Christian Sampson > [If I could have a family and a home one night, and all of it's gone the next, that must mean that life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-murray/if-i-could-have-a-family-and-a-home-one-night-and-all-of-it-s-gone/) [Liz Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-murray/) > [I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics. So I've spent some time thinking about how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-been-struck-by-how-hungry-we-all-are-for-a-different-kind-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Khatami is a symptom and not the cause of change in Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/khatami-is-a-symptom-and-not-the-cause-of-change-in-iran/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [It takes more than clicking like for a good cause to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-oh/it-takes-more-than-clicking-like-for-a-good-cause-to-change-the-world/) Michael Oh > [The general remedy of those who are uneasy without knowing the cause is change of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-general-remedy-of-those-who-are-uneasy-without-knowing-the-cause/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## 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": "We used to think that revolutions are the cause of change. 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