--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can’t fix people or make them change…" description: "\"“You can’t fix people or make them change; the only thing you can do is pack your shit and leave if it isn’t working for you.”\" — Greg Behrendt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png" --- # You can’t fix people or make them change; the only thing… ![“You can’t fix people or make them change; the only thing you can do is pack your shit and leave if it isn’t working for you.” quote by Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png) > ““You can’t fix people or make them change; the only thing you can do is pack your shit and leave if it isn’t working for you.”” [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving an unhealthy relationship is sometimes the only viable option for personal wellbeing. **In simple terms:** You may need to leave if it isn’t working. Key Takeaway Prioritize your health over staying stuck. Themes relationships self‑care boundaries Mood sad determined Type advice reflective When to use this quote - breakups - cohabitation - living arrangements - emotional health Key Concepts personal agency toxic dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate staying is harmful? - How can you prepare for a clean break? A Different Perspective Leaving may cause pain and guilt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ## Related quotes > [Pack your shit get your keys get your shit gotta leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/pack-your-shit-get-your-keys-get-your-shit-gotta-leave/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [For changes to be of any true value, they've got to be lasting and consistent. Any time you sincerely want to make a change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/for-changes-to-be-of-any-true-value-they-ve-got-to-be-lasting-and-2/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards. When people ask me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/any-time-you-sincerely-want-to-make-a-change-the-first-thing-you-must-2/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-time-you-sincerely-want-to-make-a-change-the-first-thing-you-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“At some point, I finally realized that stress made a really bad companion... so I had it pack its shit and leave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/at-some-point-i-finally-realized-that-stress-made-a-really-bad/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“I feel like any second you're going to figure out what a piece of shit I am and leave me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-feel-like-any-second-you-re-going-to-figure-out-what-a-piece-of/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I come. I fuck shit up. I leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silver-lining/i-come-i-fuck-shit-up-i-leave/) [Silver Lining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silver-lining/) > [Never try to fix other people. God does not need to do a bank shot off your lips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/never-try-to-fix-other-people-god-does-not-need-to-do-a-bank-shot-off/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [“You can't fix people like you can solve a math problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-brant/you-can-t-fix-people-like-you-can-solve-a-math-problem/) Wendy Brant > [“Instead of expecting the PM to fix everything, people first need to fix their own mindset, their own attitude and set their own house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-kapoor/instead-of-expecting-the-pm-to-fix-everything-people-first-need-to/) [Virender Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-kapoor/) > [The show is 'Fix My Life!' Get it? Life. I do not fix people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-show-is-fix-my-life-get-it-life-i-do-not-fix-people/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Turns out fixing people up is not how we make money. It's failing to fix people up while still giving them hope that soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/turns-out-fixing-people-up-is-not-how-we-make-money-it-s-failing-to/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) > [It's something I think probably every football team and sports team in America deals with is having people get out of their comfort zone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-frost/it-s-something-i-think-probably-every-football-team-and-sports-team/) [Scott Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-frost/) > [Sometimes you just can't fix other people's problems sometimes all you can do is stand by them hold there hand and walk with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-just-can-t-fix-other-people-s-problems-sometimes-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The answer lies in preventing these failures, not in looking for better ways to fix the people who are failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-answer-lies-in-preventing-these-failures-not-in-looking-for/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) ## More by Greg Behrendt > [Personally, when I'm picking friends, I like the ones who don't make me cry myself to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/personally-when-i-m-picking-friends-i-like-the-ones-who-don-t-make-me/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [So, I'm 34. I'm kind of becoming an adult - kind of, I guess. But I know that I am because, the other day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/so-i-m-34-i-m-kind-of-becoming-an-adult-kind-of-i-guess-but-i-know/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Don’t be flattered that he misses you. He should miss you. You are deeply missable. However, he’s still the same person who just broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/don-t-be-flattered-that-he-misses-you-he-should-miss-you-you-are/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [The best thing that can happen in a relationship is when you are the same person you were before the relationship started. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/the-best-thing-that-can-happen-in-a-relationship-is-when-you-are-the/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [The reason it's so painful when someone disappears is you have to face the fact that the person you loved had probably left you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/the-reason-it-s-so-painful-when-someone-disappears-is-you-have-to/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Cheaters are people who have a lot of stuff to work out, and they're working it out on your time and with your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/cheaters-are-people-who-have-a-lot-of-stuff-to-work-out-and-they-re/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Two people in a relationship either grow together or apart over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/two-people-in-a-relationship-either-grow-together-or-apart-over-time/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [I do think that you can dress yourself out of a problem. The way that a haircut and a new pair of pants can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/i-do-think-that-you-can-dress-yourself-out-of-a-problem-the-way-that/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [We're taught that in life, we should try to look on the bright side. Not in this case. In this case, assume rejection first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/we-re-taught-that-in-life-we-should-try-to-look-on-the-bright-side/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [I don't have to edit myself. I get to be me, warts and all, and that's ultimately what people want, and to trust each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/i-don-t-have-to-edit-myself-i-get-to-be-me-warts-and-all-and-that-s/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [He's just not that into you if he's not asking you out. Because if he likes you, trust me, he will ask you out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/he-s-just-not-that-into-you-if-he-s-not-asking-you-out-because-if-he/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Lying, cheating, hiding is the exact opposite of the behavior of a man who's really into you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/lying-cheating-hiding-is-the-exact-opposite-of-the-behavior-of-a-man/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [big plans require big action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/big-plans-require-big-action/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [I've never tried to pass myself off as anything more than a comedian who wrote a dating book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/i-ve-never-tried-to-pass-myself-off-as-anything-more-than-a-comedian/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [People are inspired to do remarkable things to find and be with the one they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/people-are-inspired-to-do-remarkable-things-to-find-and-be-with-the/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) [Explore all 175 Greg Behrendt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) ## 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": "“You can’t fix people or make them change; the only thing you can do is pack your shit and leave if it isn’t working for you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Behrendt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change-the-only-thing-you-can-do-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change-the-only-thing-you-can-do-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/greg-behrendt-2271_change_you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change_2956788.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can’t fix people or make them change; the only thing you can do is pack your shit and leave if it isn’t…” — Greg Behrendt", "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": "Greg Behrendt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can’t fix people or make...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change-the-only-thing-you-can-do-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/you-can-t-fix-people-or-make-them-change-the-only-thing-you-can-do-is/#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 } } ] } ```