---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems that the one thing that doesn't…"
description: "\"It seems that the one thing that doesn't change is people's reaction to short-term conditions and their axiomatic ability to perpetuate them far into t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg"
---

#  It seems that the one thing that doesn't change is…

![“It seems that the one thing that doesn't change is people's reaction to short-term conditions and their axiomatic ability to perpetuate them far into the future.” quote by James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg)

> “It seems that the one thing that doesn't change is people's reaction to short-term conditions and their axiomatic ability to perpetuate them far into the future.”

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

## About This Quote

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

Human behavior tends to repeat short‑term reactions, which are then projected into long‑term expectations, creating persistent cycles.

**In simple terms:** People repeat short‑term habits over time.

Key Takeaway

Short‑term impulses shape long‑term trends.

Themes

psychology economics behavioral science

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

observation insight

When to use this quote

- investment decisions
- policy forecasting

Key Concepts

feedback loops

Practical Applications

- recognize and break cyclical biases

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we cling to short‑term reasoning?
- How can we disrupt harmful cycles?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perpetuate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetuate/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [People's reaction to opera the first time they hear it is extreme...They either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-s-reaction-to-opera-the-first-time-they-hear-it-is-extreme/)

[Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/)

> [I think you can judge the level of success for any group of people by the reaction against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/i-think-you-can-judge-the-level-of-success-for-any-group-of-people-by/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Some people handle situations differently - some people have a reaction, some people let it go over their head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-wright-phillips/some-people-handle-situations-differently-some-people-have-a-reaction/)

[Shaun Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-wright-phillips/)

> [I'm still astounded by some people's reaction to things I consider quite normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-m-still-astounded-by-some-people-s-reaction-to-things-i-consider/)

[Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/)

> [For me, the biggest gauge for success in a project is people's reaction to it and what they're saying about it and if they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/for-me-the-biggest-gauge-for-success-in-a-project-is-people-s/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [Nothing in my life has ever made me want to commit suicide more than people's reaction to my trying to commit suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/nothing-in-my-life-has-ever-made-me-want-to-commit-suicide-more-than-2/)

[Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/)

> [I like people to have their own reaction and their own take on things. And I don't like to shove my - what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/i-like-people-to-have-their-own-reaction-and-their-own-take-on-things/)

[Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/)

> [Women became almost our bigger audience. Teenage girls went crazy for my movie. I saw it. I went to theatres all over and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/women-became-almost-our-bigger-audience-teenage-girls-went-crazy-for/)

[Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/)

> [You make a movie that is about what you want it to be about and let people have their reaction to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/you-make-a-movie-that-is-about-what-you-want-it-to-be-about-and-let/)

[Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/)

> [To desire immortality for the individual is really the same as wanting to perpetuate an error forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/to-desire-immortality-for-the-individual-is-really-the-same-as/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [An efficient economy does not perpetuate the misallocation of capital - it punishes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/an-efficient-economy-does-not-perpetuate-the-misallocation-of-capital/)

[Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/)

> [Government was intended to suppress injustice, but its effect has been to embody and perpetuate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/government-was-intended-to-suppress-injustice-but-its-effect-has-been/)

[William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/)

> [I remain terrified of the capacity of the media, the capacity of spin doctors, here and abroad, particularly the United States media, to perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-remain-terrified-of-the-capacity-of-the-media-the-capacity-of-spin/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [Our democracies are increasingly captured by a ruling class that seeks to perpetuate its privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/our-democracies-are-increasingly-captured-by-a-ruling-class-that/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Ironically, fashion trends, be it denim or polka dots, have a tendency to perpetuate the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/ironically-fashion-trends-be-it-denim-or-polka-dots-have-a-tendency/)

[Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/)

## More by James O'Shaughnessy

> [The average investor does significantly worse than a simple index... It's literally because of the way our brains are wired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/the-average-investor-does-significantly-worse-than-a-simple-index-it/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [If you are an investor who's retired and hopes to live off the income that your portfolio is generating, then we would focus just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/if-you-are-an-investor-who-s-retired-and-hopes-to-live-off-the-income/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [If you're an investor who wants a little bit more from the capital-appreciation side of things, but still likes this concept of getting 'paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/if-you-re-an-investor-who-wants-a-little-bit-more-from-the-capital/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [Fear, greed and hope have destroyed more portfolio value than any recession or depression we have ever been through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/fear-greed-and-hope-have-destroyed-more-portfolio-value-than-any/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [History depends on who is telling the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/history-depends-on-who-is-telling-the-story/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [Stocks change. Industries change. But the underlying reasons certain stocks are good investments remain the same. Only the fullness of time reveals which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/stocks-change-industries-change-but-the-underlying-reasons-certain/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [Arbitrage human nature. It's not going to change any time soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/arbitrage-human-nature-it-s-not-going-to-change-any-time-soon/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [If you're indexing to the S&amp;P 500, you're buying the most expensive names in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/if-you-re-indexing-to-the-s-p-500-you-re-buying-the-most-expensive/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [We continue to advise that investors remain committed to a patient, long-term outlook and that the best way to do well in stocks is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/we-continue-to-advise-that-investors-remain-committed-to-a-patient/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [The truth seems to love the small print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/the-truth-seems-to-love-the-small-print/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [By relying on the statistical information rather than a gut feeling, you allow the data to lead you to be in the right place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/by-relying-on-the-statistical-information-rather-than-a-gut-feeling/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [If you look back to the most spectacular blow ups in history, you can always tie them to a couple things: They were extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/if-you-look-back-to-the-most-spectacular-blow-ups-in-history-you-can/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [Historically, we have always seen reversion to the mean. After stocks have had an unusually great 10 or 20 years, they typically turn in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/historically-we-have-always-seen-reversion-to-the-mean-after-stocks/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [You'll get nowhere buying stocks just because they have a great story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/you-ll-get-nowhere-buying-stocks-just-because-they-have-a-great-story/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [We believe that people moving their portfolios to an overweight in bonds will be disappointed over the long-term and will significantly underperform an asset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/we-believe-that-people-moving-their-portfolios-to-an-overweight-in/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

[Explore all 17 James O'Shaughnessy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It seems that the one thing that doesn't change is people's reaction to short-term conditions and their axiomatic ability to perpetuate them far into the future.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James O'Shaughnessy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t-change-is-people-s-reaction/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t-change-is-people-s-reaction/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/james-o-shaughnessy-30493_ability_it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t_119615.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It seems that the one thing that doesn't change is people's reaction to short-term conditions and their…” — James O'Shaughnessy",
                "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": "James O'Shaughnessy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It seems that the one thing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t-change-is-people-s-reaction/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/it-seems-that-the-one-thing-that-doesn-t-change-is-people-s-reaction/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
