--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Changing the ways of governments usually…" description: "\"Changing the ways of governments usually doesn't happen quickly, but time is a luxury the world no longer enjoys.\" — Frans van Houten" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg" --- # Changing the ways of governments usually doesn't happen… ![“Changing the ways of governments usually doesn't happen quickly, but time is a luxury the world no longer enjoys.” quote by Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg) > “Changing the ways of governments usually doesn't happen quickly, but time is a luxury the world no longer enjoys.” [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political and social change is inherently slow, yet modern urgency demands faster adaptation. **In simple terms:** Change is slow; urgency is high. Key Takeaway Speed of change vs. time scarcity. Themes politics societal change urgency time management institutional inertia Mood concerned urgent Type observation cautionary When to use this quote - policy reform debates - crisis response planning - organizational transformation initiatives Key Concepts government processes public expectations global challenges Practical Applications - strategic foresight consulting - accelerated policy design Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions balance thoroughness with speed? - What mechanisms can reduce delay in critical decisions? A Different Perspective Some reforms can be rapid when driven by decisive leadership and public pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/government-is-at-best-but-an-expedient-but-most-governments-are-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/government-is-at-best-but-an-expedient-but-most-governments-are/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Governments usually end not with a bang but with a whimper, as the Conservatives learned in the 1990s. Support and authority erodes over time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/governments-usually-end-not-with-a-bang-but-with-a-whimper-as-the/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [Confronted by menace, or what is perceived as menace, governments will usually attempt to smash it, rarely to examine it, understand it, define it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/confronted-by-menace-or-what-is-perceived-as-menace-governments-will/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-heartily-accept-the-motto-that-government-is-best-which-governs-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Time is his luxury, and he is prepared to spend any amount that is necessary to get a picture right, which is another paradox,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gayford/time-is-his-luxury-and-he-is-prepared-to-spend-any-amount-that-is/) [Martin Gayford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gayford/) > [Time was a luxury I couldn't afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/time-was-a-luxury-i-couldn-t-afford/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [Craft takes time, and therefore it is luxury. You cannot do an amazingly well-made garment without taking time—not just the time it takes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-toledo/craft-takes-time-and-therefore-it-is-luxury-you-cannot-do-an/) [Isabel Toledo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-toledo/) > [Time is the only luxury. It's the only thing you can't get back. If you lose your luggage - I'm not gonna say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/time-is-the-only-luxury-it-s-the-only-thing-you-can-t-get-back-if-you/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I like to say time is a luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/i-like-to-say-time-is-a-luxury/) [Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/) > [“Squandering time is a luxury of profligate youth, when the years are to us as dollars are to billionaires. Doing the same thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kreider/squandering-time-is-a-luxury-of-profligate-youth-when-the-years-are/) [Tim Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kreider/) > [When routine bites hard, and ambitions are low. When resentment rides high, but emotion won't grow...and we're changing our ways, taking different roads. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-curtis/when-routine-bites-hard-and-ambitions-are-low-when-resentment-rides/) [Ian Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-curtis/) > [2014 I Ain't Changing My Ways For NOBODY , What The F\*ck I'm Changing For .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamontae-harris/2014-i-ain-t-changing-my-ways-for-nobody-what-the-f-ck-i-m-changing/) Lamontae Harris > [I think so much about how we read, about the nature of solitude, and of community, is changing in ways that none of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-think-so-much-about-how-we-read-about-the-nature-of-solitude-and-of/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [We're changing our ways, taking different roads, and love will tear us apart again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-curtis/we-re-changing-our-ways-taking-different-roads-and-love-will-tear-us/) [Ian Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-curtis/) ## More by Frans van Houten > [We are addressing duplication and complexity. At the same time, we are investing more in research and development, speeding up the time to market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/we-are-addressing-duplication-and-complexity-at-the-same-time-we-are/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Like all major transitions in human history, the shift from a linear to a circular economy will be a tumultuous one. It will feature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/like-all-major-transitions-in-human-history-the-shift-from-a-linear/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Even though we live in a fast-changing world with short term-ism all around, it requires years of determination to transform a company and structurally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/even-though-we-live-in-a-fast-changing-world-with-short-term-ism-all/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [The entire dynamics of the lighting market are changing. Value is moving toward systems and services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/the-entire-dynamics-of-the-lighting-market-are-changing-value-is/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [We can't think in terms of designing products that we throw over the wall to customers, but instead, we need to design products that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/we-can-t-think-in-terms-of-designing-products-that-we-throw-over-the/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [The conventional way of selling products out of the catalogue no longer works; the relationship needs to become more sticky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/the-conventional-way-of-selling-products-out-of-the-catalogue-no/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [How can we keep people healthy, and if they get sick, how can we treat them right the first time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/how-can-we-keep-people-healthy-and-if-they-get-sick-how-can-we-treat/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Lumileds is a highly successful supplier of lighting components to the general illumination, automotive, and consumer electronics markets, with a strong customer base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/lumileds-is-a-highly-successful-supplier-of-lighting-components-to/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Tech can help population health, make health more accessible, more affordable. Tech can also get people get more included in the economy and contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/tech-can-help-population-health-make-health-more-accessible-more/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Philips is uniquely positioned to help reshape and optimize population health management by leveraging big data and delivering care across the health continuum, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/philips-is-uniquely-positioned-to-help-reshape-and-optimize/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [It has not escaped us that other competitors have also identified health as an attractive marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/it-has-not-escaped-us-that-other-competitors-have-also-identified/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Compassion, together with contractual responsibility for one's workforce, is a mark of a top employer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/compassion-together-with-contractual-responsibility-for-one-s/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Our strategy is focused on driving better outcomes for patients and higher productivity for hospitals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/our-strategy-is-focused-on-driving-better-outcomes-for-patients-and/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [There's much unlocked potential in Philips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/there-s-much-unlocked-potential-in-philips/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [We undertook a huge internal transformation to sharpen our customer focus, step up innovation, improve productivity to ensure competitiveness, change our culture, and simplify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/we-undertook-a-huge-internal-transformation-to-sharpen-our-customer/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) [Explore all 91 Frans van Houten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) ## More Changing quotes > [“The game is changing' .. :The game is the same, the stakes are rising.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/the-game-is-changing-the-game-is-the-same-the-stakes-are-rising/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [“No one ever changed the world waking up at noon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-chalfant/no-one-ever-changed-the-world-waking-up-at-noon/) [Connor Chalfant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-chalfant/) > [Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/progress-should-mean-that-we-are-always-changing-the-world-to-fit-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-is-not-just-changing-the-things-outside-of-us-first-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [I approach fashion as an evolution. It's always changing. As you know, sometimes it changes in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-approach-fashion-as-an-evolution-it-s-always-changing-as-you-know/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [When I come home from work, if I just played a really good game and I'm on top of the world, I think changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/when-i-come-home-from-work-if-i-just-played-a-really-good-game-and-i/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [It's not about changing--it's about growing, together," he said, like the wise soul that he was. "I wanted to let you know--that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-schreiber/it-s-not-about-changing-it-s-about-growing-together-he-said-like-the/) [Ellen Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-schreiber/) > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [There's more to Gareth's game than scoring goals, he's brought a lot to the changing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/there-s-more-to-gareth-s-game-than-scoring-goals-he-s-brought-a-lot/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [“A shift was taking place in my life - the beach house, Kyle, Tristan; the tides were changing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/a-shift-was-taking-place-in-my-life-the-beach-house-kyle-tristan-the/) [Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/) > [If the team keeps changing then everything has to keep changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/if-the-team-keeps-changing-then-everything-has-to-keep-changing/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [As I feel this life growing and moving inside of me, all of a sudden everything else is not as important. There's a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-reyes/as-i-feel-this-life-growing-and-moving-inside-of-me-all-of-a-sudden/) [Judy Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-reyes/) > [Truthfully, being pregnant is changing me as a person. Each day is part of this amazing journey that has completely shifted the focus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/truthfully-being-pregnant-is-changing-me-as-a-person-each-day-is-part/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) Browse all 1,835 Changing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Changing the ways of governments usually doesn't happen quickly, but time is a luxury the world no longer enjoys.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frans van Houten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually-doesn-t-happen-quickly-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Changing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually-doesn-t-happen-quickly-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/frans-van-houten-7401_changing_changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually_49896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Changing the ways of governments usually doesn't happen quickly, but time is a luxury the world no longer…” — Frans van Houten", "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": "Frans van Houten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Changing the ways of governments usually...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually-doesn-t-happen-quickly-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/changing-the-ways-of-governments-usually-doesn-t-happen-quickly-but/#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 } } ] } ```