---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want change, it has to be…"
description: "\"If you want change, it has to be generational. We have this unbelievable opportunity to make that change. Entertainment enables us to entice and educat..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg"
---

#  If you want change, it has to be generational. We have…

![“If you want change, it has to be generational. We have this unbelievable opportunity to make that change. Entertainment enables us to entice and educate mass audiences into a shift of consciousness.” quote by Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg)

> “If you want change, it has to be generational. We have this unbelievable opportunity to make that change. Entertainment enables us to entice and educate mass audiences into a shift of consciousness.”

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Transformative change requires a generational shift; entertainment can be a catalyst to educate and inspire mass audiences toward new consciousness.

**In simple terms:** Big change needs whole‑generation effort, using entertainment to teach.

Key Takeaway

Leverage media to spark societal evolution.

Themes

environment education media generational change

Mood

inspirational hopeful

Type

activist motivational

When to use this quote

- TV shows
- social media campaigns
- public service announcements
- school curricula

Key Concepts

cultural shift mass persuasion activism

Questions to Reflect On

- What role should artists play in social movements?
- How can we measure the impact of entertainment‑driven education?

A Different Perspective

Entertainment alone may not sustain long‑term action without policy support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Generational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generational/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/)

## Related quotes

> [If you want change, it has to be generational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generational/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [“All technological change is generational change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-carr/all-technological-change-is-generational-change/)

[Nicholas Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-carr/)

> [“You can't change generational poverty by sitting on your ass. Let's get to work!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damen-lopez/you-can-t-change-generational-poverty-by-sitting-on-your-ass-let-s/)

Damen Lopez

> [“If people let you down.Improve.You don't have to change for their entertainment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeth-jacinto/if-people-let-you-down-improve-you-don-t-have-to-change-for-their/)

Janeth Jacinto

> [“Do you want to make a change?...Do you want this change? Then let's move at God's pace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/do-you-want-to-make-a-change-do-you-want-this-change-then-let-s-move/)

[Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/)

> [“To change you must want to change, you must be responsible for the change, and then take action to make the change. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-narofsky/to-change-you-must-want-to-change-you-must-be-responsible-for-the/)

[Thomas Narofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-narofsky/)

> [The subtle generational cues that make one thing cool and another uncool aren't always obvious to a parent. My children are my dinner-table sounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-subtle-generational-cues-that-make-one-thing-cool-and-another/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [It's a very generational thing: I am not interested in labels. I am who I am. I will love who I love, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-paige/it-s-a-very-generational-thing-i-am-not-interested-in-labels-i-am-who/)

[Peter Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-paige/)

> [I strongly believe that at this point in America's history, we need a president that will not just continue, even with a new face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-strongly-believe-that-at-this-point-in-america-s-history-we-need-a/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [“Some problems were generational; you just had to wait for the relevant elders to die off and be replaced with more progressive types.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/some-problems-were-generational-you-just-had-to-wait-for-the-relevant/)

[Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/)

> [We live in an age of generational turmoil. Baby-boom parents are accused of clinging on to jobs and houses which they should be freeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-ridley/we-live-in-an-age-of-generational-turmoil-baby-boom-parents-are/)

[Jane Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-ridley/)

> [I want to have generational money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/offset/i-want-to-have-generational-money/)

Offset

> [“A personal journey is part of the generational relay. Live your legacy then pass it on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-v-glim/a-personal-journey-is-part-of-the-generational-relay-live-your-legacy/)

Jo Ann V. Glim

> [There's always some generational-guys-hanging-out movie that is made every few years, I think, and some of them are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/there-s-always-some-generational-guys-hanging-out-movie-that-is-made/)

[Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/)

> [My fan base is really expanding into an inter-generational thing - it's what every artist probably hopes for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/my-fan-base-is-really-expanding-into-an-inter-generational-thing-it-s/)

[Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/)

## More by Ian Somerhalder

> [I don't care how hot a girl is - if she doesn't like animals, it would be a major, major problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/i-don-t-care-how-hot-a-girl-is-if-she-doesn-t-like-animals-it-would/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [The most underused, under-appreciated group of people in the world is our youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/the-most-underused-under-appreciated-group-of-people-in-the-world-is/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [What I've started to realize is that social media is not just technology - it's become its own entity, full of energy waves. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/what-i-ve-started-to-realize-is-that-social-media-is-not-just/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Going green doesn’t start with doing green acts - it starts with a shift in consciousness. This shift allows you to recognize that with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/going-green-doesn-t-start-with-doing-green-acts-it-starts-with-a/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Nina Dobrev makes my job easy, its hard not to melt when she looks at you with those doe eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/nina-dobrev-makes-my-job-easy-its-hard-not-to-melt-when-she-looks-at/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [For me, commitment boils down to honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/for-me-commitment-boils-down-to-honor/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Social media is changing the world, and we're all here whitnessing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/social-media-is-changing-the-world-and-we-re-all-here-whitnessing-it/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Our Animal Sanctuary initiative has many layers. We are aiming to create a place where abandoned and bullied creatures come together with bullied youth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/our-animal-sanctuary-initiative-has-many-layers-we-are-aiming-to/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Men have an important role to play in sending out the message that real men do not hurt or abuse their partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/men-have-an-important-role-to-play-in-sending-out-the-message-that/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [In each of its forms, love has an infinite scope of potential expansion, all of which I see leading to growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/in-each-of-its-forms-love-has-an-infinite-scope-of-potential/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Within hours, tweetted piece of information you've just doled out has become a monsoon, a hurricane of tangible energy that is literally circulating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/within-hours-tweetted-piece-of-information-you-ve-just-doled-out-has/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Maybe one of the only things I do well: I cook like a maniac! I would be a chef if I weren't an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/maybe-one-of-the-only-things-i-do-well-i-cook-like-a-maniac-i-would/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [The film business creates a large amount of waste, and I'm not immune to waste in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/the-film-business-creates-a-large-amount-of-waste-and-i-m-not-immune/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Every love story needs a catalyst of some sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/every-love-story-needs-a-catalyst-of-some-sort/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [If you love someone when you're 20 and you carry that love with you until you're 90, it's not going to be the same dynamic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/if-you-love-someone-when-you-re-20-and-you-carry-that-love-with-you/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

[Explore all 166 Ian Somerhalder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

## More Audience quotes

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/)

[Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/)

> [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/)

[Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/)

> [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/)

[An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/)

> [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/)

[Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/)

> [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/)

[Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/)

[Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/)

> [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/)

[Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/)

> [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/)

[Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/)

> [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

[Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you want change, it has to be generational. We have this unbelievable opportunity to make that change. Entertainment enables us to entice and educate mass audiences into a shift of consciousness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ian Somerhalder"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generational-we-have-this/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Audience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generational-we-have-this/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/ian-somerhalder-2439_audience_if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generati_3101124.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you want change, it has to be generational. We have this unbelievable opportunity to make that change…” — Ian Somerhalder",
                "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": "Ian Somerhalder",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you want change, it has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generational-we-have-this/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/if-you-want-change-it-has-to-be-generational-we-have-this/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
