--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really see no other solution than to…" description: "\"I really see no other solution than to turn inwards and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/etty-hillesum-9002_believe_i-really-see-no-other-solution-than-to-t_973959.jpg" --- # I really see no other solution than to turn inwards and to… ![“I really see no other solution than to turn inwards and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we first change ourselves. And that seems to me the only lesson to be learned.” quote by Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/etty-hillesum-9002_believe_i-really-see-no-other-solution-than-to-t_973959.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/etty-hillesum-9002_believe_i-really-see-no-other-solution-than-to-t_973959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/etty-hillesum-9002_believe_i-really-see-no-other-solution-than-to-t_973959.jpg) > “I really see no other solution than to turn inwards and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we first change ourselves. And that seems to me the only lesson to be learned.” [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal transformation is prerequisite for societal change; inner cleansing precedes external impact. **In simple terms:** Change yourself before trying to change the world. Key Takeaway Focus on inner growth first. Themes self‑improvement responsibility spirituality Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - activism - leadership development Key Concepts inner work ethical renewal Questions to Reflect On - How can personal change influence larger systems? - What practices help root out inner rot? A Different Perspective Inner change alone may not affect systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-lesson-1889629/) [Change World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-world/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Turn Inwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-inwards-1889628/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The path of awakening the kundalini is to turn inwards and pay attention to our world of emotions, thoughts and talents hidden inside us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/om-swami/the-path-of-awakening-the-kundalini-is-to-turn-inwards-and-pay/) [Om Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/om-swami/) > [“When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-we-see-men-of-a-contrary-character-we-should-turn-inwards-and/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [No matter what I choose to become, I believe I can change the world. And as I am striving to change the world, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-berns/no-matter-what-i-choose-to-become-i-believe-i-can-change-the-world/) [Sam Berns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-berns/) > [Are we Christians in this country really changing our hearts, or do we just believe in a change of heart...?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-baptist-metz/are-we-christians-in-this-country-really-changing-our-hearts-or-do-we/) [Johann Baptist Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-baptist-metz/) > [I wanted to show them I will never give up. We have to keep together. I still believe in myself. I will never change.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/i-wanted-to-show-them-i-will-never-give-up-we-have-to-keep-together-i/) [Paolo Di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/) > [I believe change to be a good thing. Everything must evolve but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jordan/i-believe-change-to-be-a-good-thing-everything-must-evolve-but-you/) [Simon Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jordan/) > [“Refusing to believe that change can occur at any moment is one of the worst of human failings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hershkovich/refusing-to-believe-that-change-can-occur-at-any-moment-is-one-of-the/) [Leigh Hershkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hershkovich/) > [If you believe you can change - if you make it a habit - the change becomes real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-believe-you-can-change-if-you-make-it-a-habit-the-change/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [I believe we change for two reasons: Either you learn enough that you want to, or you've been hurt enough that you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-roby/i-believe-we-change-for-two-reasons-either-you-learn-enough-that-you/) [Crystal Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-roby/) > [I'm not sure I want to preserve the old ways just for the sake of saying, 'I don't believe in change.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-randolph/i-m-not-sure-i-want-to-preserve-the-old-ways-just-for-the-sake-of/) [Marc Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-randolph/) > [Many leaders of big organizations, I think, don't believe that change is possible. But if you look at history, things do change, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/many-leaders-of-big-organizations-i-think-don-t-believe-that-change/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [I like working with people. I believe change can only come through collaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/i-like-working-with-people-i-believe-change-can-only-come-through/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“When you change what you believe, you change what you do... which changes what you get.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odille-rault/when-you-change-what-you-believe-you-change-what-you-do-which-changes/) [Odille Rault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odille-rault/) > [We're on some path that's set since we're born, but I still believe we can change some things. So I believe in my faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rm/we-re-on-some-path-that-s-set-since-we-re-born-but-i-still-believe-we/) [RM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rm/) > [Lifting whole passages from someone else's speeches is not change you can believe in. It's change you can Xerox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/lifting-whole-passages-from-someone-else-s-speeches-is-not-change-you/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Etty Hillesum > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Every word born of an inner necessity - writing must never be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/every-word-born-of-an-inner-necessity-writing-must-never-be-anything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [That fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/that-fear-of-missing-out-on-things-makes-you-miss-out-on-everything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [There are moments when I feel like giving up or giving in, but I soon rally again and do my duty as I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/there-are-moments-when-i-feel-like-giving-up-or-giving-in-but-i-soon/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/the-externals-are-simply-so-many-props-everything-we-need-is-within-us/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one finds the strength to deal with small things, one finds it to deal with the large ones as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-finds-the-strength-to-deal-with-small-things-one-finds-it-to/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [All disasters stem from us. Why is there a war? Perhaps because now and then I might be inclined to snap at my neighbour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/all-disasters-stem-from-us-why-is-there-a-war-perhaps-because-now-and/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-the-most-important-thing-in-a-whole-day-is-the-rest-we-take/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We human beings cause monstrous conditions, but precisely because we cause them we soon learn to adapt ourselves to them. Only if we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-human-beings-cause-monstrous-conditions-but-precisely-because-we/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/despite-everything-life-is-full-of-beauty-and-meaning/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes my day is crammed full of people and talk and yet I have the feeling of living in utter peace and quiet. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-my-day-is-crammed-full-of-people-and-talk-and-yet-i-have/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one burdens the future with one's worries, it cannot grow organically. I am filled with confidence, not that I shall succeed in worldly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-burdens-the-future-with-one-s-worries-it-cannot-grow/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies. We make mental provisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-have-to-fight-them-daily-like-fleas-those-many-small-worries-about/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) [Explore all 62 Etty Hillesum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [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/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [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/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really see no other solution than to turn inwards and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we first change ourselves. 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