--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The proud do not change to improve, but…" description: "\"The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change.\" — Ezr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/ezra-taft-benson-443_change_the-proud-do-not-change-to-improve-but-d_1806483.png" --- # The proud do not change to improve, but defend their… ![“The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change.” quote by Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/ezra-taft-benson-443_change_the-proud-do-not-change-to-improve-but-d_1806483.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/ezra-taft-benson-443_change_the-proud-do-not-change-to-improve-but-d_1806483.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/ezra-taft-benson-443_change_the-proud-do-not-change-to-improve-but-d_1806483.png) > “The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change.” [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pride prevents genuine improvement; humility enables repentance and true change, whereas rationalization defends the status quo. **In simple terms:** Pride blocks growth; humility allows change. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility to embrace change. Themes spirituality personal development humility pride change management Mood reflective inspirational Type spiritual self-help When to use this quote - personal reflection - counseling sessions - leadership training - conflict resolution Key Concepts theology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What areas of your life are defended by rationalization? - How can humility be fostered in groups? A Different Perspective Humility may be difficult to practice under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Humble person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble-person/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) ## Related quotes > [“Too proud to change your name in exchange for a job." "Not proud, sir," said Runnel. "But Runnel of Farzibeck won't die here to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/too-proud-to-change-your-name-in-exchange-for-a-job-not-proud-sir/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I'm not too proud to change. I like to win too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bowden/i-m-not-too-proud-to-change-i-like-to-win-too-much/) [Bobby Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bowden/) > [When the doctrine of repentance is fully understood then it is seen that repentance is all that ever needs to be taught for repentance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-ludlow/when-the-doctrine-of-repentance-is-fully-understood-then-it-is-seen/) Daniel H. Ludlow > [ \[Repentance\] means unlearning all the self-conceit and self -will that we have been training ourselves into... It means killing part of yourself, under-going a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/repentance-means-unlearning-all-the-self-conceit-and-self-will-that-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Repentance means turning toward other human beings, our own flesh and blood, whenever they’re oppressed, hungry, or imprisoned; it means acting with compassion instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-miles/repentance-means-turning-toward-other-human-beings-our-own-flesh-and/) [Sara Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-miles/) > [“If repentance were perfection, none of those people repented. Repentance, however, means recognizing Jesus' authority and submitting to it, even though you know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/if-repentance-were-perfection-none-of-those-people-repented/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [Real repentance means coming not only to be sorry for the consequences of sin but to hate sin itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/real-repentance-means-coming-not-only-to-be-sorry-for-the/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [“Repentance means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into... It means killing part of yourself, undergoing a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/repentance-means-unlearning-all-the-self-conceit-and-self-will-that/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Repentance means a change of mind. Formerly, I thought sin as a pleasant thing, but now I have changed my mind about it. Formerly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/repentance-means-a-change-of-mind-formerly-i-thought-sin-as-a/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Repentance means to have a hearty, thorough, change of mind and it includes the idea of rejecting and renouncing the sinful, filthy lifestyle you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-phelps/repentance-means-to-have-a-hearty-thorough-change-of-mind-and-it/) [Fred Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-phelps/) > [We need to ask God for forgiveness and do all we can to correct whatever harm our actions may have caused. Repentance means a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-need-to-ask-god-for-forgiveness-and-do-all-we-can-to-correct/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [True repentance means making amends with the person when at all possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawana-blackwell/true-repentance-means-making-amends-with-the-person-when-at-all/) [Lawana Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawana-blackwell/) > [Real repentance means that a man has come, not only to be sorry for the consequences of his sin, but to hate sin itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/real-repentance-means-that-a-man-has-come-not-only-to-be-sorry-for/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [“Repentance means change: Change in what you think, change in what you desire, change in what you do and say. It is the evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-smith/repentance-means-change-change-in-what-you-think-change-in-what-you/) [Colin S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-s-smith/) > [Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/repentance-means-turning-from-as-much-as-you-know-of-your-sin-to-give/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ezra Taft Benson > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/every-latter-day-saint-should-make-the-study-of-this-book-a-lifetime/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Do not be caught up in materialism, one of the real plagues of our generation-that is, acquiring things, fast-paced living, and securing career success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/do-not-be-caught-up-in-materialism-one-of-the-real-plagues-of-our/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [The high cost of low living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-high-cost-of-low-living/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“We must each of us do our home work. 'My people are destroyed,' said Hosea, 'for lack of knowledge.' We must be wise as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-must-each-of-us-do-our-home-work-my-people-are-destroyed-said/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Man…need not stand alone. Prayer will open doors; prayer will remove barriers; prayer will ease pressures; prayer will give inner peace and comfort during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/man-need-not-stand-alone-prayer-will-open-doors-prayer-will-remove/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Humility does not mean weakness. It does not mean timidity. It does not mean fear. A man can be humble and fearless. A man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/humility-does-not-mean-weakness-it-does-not-mean-timidity-it-does-not/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-scriptures-record-remarkable-accounts-of-men-whose-lives-changed/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [That government is best which governs the least, so taught the courageous founders of this nation. This simple declaration is diametrically opposed to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/that-government-is-best-which-governs-the-least-so-taught-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [No nation which has kept the commandments of God has ever perished, but I say to you that once freedom is lost, only blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/no-nation-which-has-kept-the-commandments-of-god-has-ever-perished/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Someone has said it is better to appreciate the things you don't own than to own things you don't appreciate. I hope we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/someone-has-said-it-is-better-to-appreciate-the-things-you-don-t-own/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“In framing that great document which Gladstone declared ‘the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/in-framing-that-great-document-which-gladstone-declared-the-most/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/godly-sorrow-is-a-gift-of-the-spirit-it-is-a-deep-realization-that/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) [Explore all 556 Ezra Taft Benson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## 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": "The proud do not change to improve, but defend their position by rationalizing. 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