--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And it would take all my energy 'changing…" description: "\"“And it would take all my energy 'changing things' as you put it, with none left over to paint -- which is the whole bloody point of everything. The en..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/jessie-burton-12889_quote_and-it-would-take-all-my-energy-changing_780565.jpg" --- # And it would take all my energy 'changing things' as you… ![“And it would take all my energy 'changing things' as you put it, with none left over to paint -- which is the whole bloody point of everything. The energy a man might use on -- oh, I don't know, making good work -- you want me to use on 'changing things'. You don't understand, because you've lived…” quote by Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/jessie-burton-12889_quote_and-it-would-take-all-my-energy-changing_780565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/jessie-burton-12889_quote_and-it-would-take-all-my-energy-changing_780565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/jessie-burton-12889_quote_and-it-would-take-all-my-energy-changing_780565.jpg) > ““And it would take all my energy 'changing things' as you put it, with none left over to paint -- which is the whole bloody point of everything. The energy a man might use on -- oh, I don't know, making good work -- you want me to use on 'changing things'. You don't understand, because you've lived your life as an individual, Isaac. And yet everything you do as a man is universal. So enjoy the glory, enjoy the money, and do it for me, because I certainly wouldn't have been allowed.”” [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes the exhaustion of constantly trying to change the world while neglecting personal creative expression. **In simple terms:** Balancing activism with personal art is draining. Key Takeaway Allocate time for both change and creation. Themes activism creativity burnout personal fulfillment societal pressure Mood reflective melancholic thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal projects - volunteer work - career planning - mental health routines - budgeting for art supplies Key Concepts existential fatigue self‑care artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - What personal passions have you sidelined? - How can you integrate creativity into activism? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on external change can lead to personal neglect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Changing Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-things/) ## Related quotes > [I think we need to remember...that a lot of energy was put into changing things to get us to the point where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/i-think-we-need-to-remember-that-a-lot-of-energy-was-put-into/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [Now don't you understand man universal law What you throw out comes back to you, star Never underestimate those who you scar Cause karma,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/now-don-t-you-understand-man-universal-law-what-you-throw-out-comes/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [It's all positive energy from me, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swizz-beatz/it-s-all-positive-energy-from-me-man/) [Swizz Beatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swizz-beatz/) > [The energy is changing here dramatically. That's part of the upheaval of the drama. The dimensional shifts are accelerating. The magnetic energy at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mccormick-day/the-energy-is-changing-here-dramatically-that-s-part-of-the-upheaval/) [Christine McCormick Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mccormick-day/) > [My first goal would be to reduce the perturbation in the carbon cycle. That would mean using carbon neutral sources of energy, and changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/my-first-goal-would-be-to-reduce-the-perturbation-in-the-carbon-cycle/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“Instead of spending time complaining about your life, use your energy on changing your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-coron/instead-of-spending-time-complaining-about-your-life-use-your-energy/) [Jeanette Coron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-coron/) > [“Nothing is static, Energetic frequencies are changing all the time. We, and everything in our world, are made of energy and as such, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-seiler/nothing-is-static-energetic-frequencies-are-changing-all-the-time-we/) [Elaine Seiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-seiler/) > [I'm not too fond of changing things into waltzes, but sometimes that works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-mcpartland/i-m-not-too-fond-of-changing-things-into-waltzes-but-sometimes-that/) [Marian McPartland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-mcpartland/) > [Magazines and advertising are flogging the idea that you have to keep changing things and get something new. I think that's balls - evil.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-day/magazines-and-advertising-are-flogging-the-idea-that-you-have-to-keep/) [Robin Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-day/) > [If there is a camera or someone making a picture or - just do the things you always want to do, because if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-wozniacki/if-there-is-a-camera-or-someone-making-a-picture-or-just-do-the/) [Caroline Wozniacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-wozniacki/) > [Building a house from scratch in the middle of a field is a bit like building a prototype car. As with all prototypes, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccloud/building-a-house-from-scratch-in-the-middle-of-a-field-is-a-bit-like/) [Kevin McCloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccloud/) > [For me it's important to keep changing things up and growing and experiencing new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/for-me-it-s-important-to-keep-changing-things-up-and-growing-and/) [Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/) > [I don't want to be that person overthinking and changing things. It's not how I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pegula/i-don-t-want-to-be-that-person-overthinking-and-changing-things-it-s/) [Jessica Pegula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pegula/) > [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/) > [Changing things from the top down works when things are stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/changing-things-from-the-top-down-works-when-things-are-stable/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) ## More by Jessie Burton > [“You really are an artist, aren’t you? You think it’s all about you, and you never stop looking for pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/you-really-are-an-artist-aren-t-you-you-think-it-s-all-about-you-and/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“pity was the path to indifference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/pity-was-the-path-to-indifference/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“My writing became the axis upon which all my identity and happiness hinged. It was now outward-looking, a self-conscious performance. I was asked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/my-writing-became-the-axis-upon-which-all-my-identity-and-happiness/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“A piece of art only succeeds when it's creator...possesses the belief that brings it into being”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/a-piece-of-art-only-succeeds-when-it-s-creator-possesses-the-belief/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“We studied men like him at school – protected gentlemen, rich gentlemen, white gentlemen, who picked up pens and wrote the world for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/we-studied-men-like-him-at-school-protected-gentlemen-rich-gentlemen/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“I feel like time’s tricked me, as if I’ve known you from before. Like we passed each other in our prams. Like it’s been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/i-feel-like-time-s-tricked-me-as-if-i-ve-known-you-from-before-like/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“Amsterdam: Where the pendulum swings from God to a guilder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/amsterdam-where-the-pendulum-swings-from-god-to-a-guilder/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“Although any collective answer to my question remains to be seen, personally I feel quite certain of it. Because if there’s one thing I’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/although-any-collective-answer-to-my-question-remains-to-be-seen/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“Things crumble. Bit by bit. They shift, you don’t notice. Then you notice. Jesus Christ, my legs are broken but I never moved my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/things-crumble-bit-by-bit-they-shift-you-don-t-notice-then-you-notice/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“You can do more with rumour than you can with fact”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/you-can-do-more-with-rumour-than-you-can-with-fact/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/there-is-nothing-hidden-that-will-not-be-revealed/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“Spain's past is a cut of meat turning green on the butcher's slab. When the war ended, people were forbidden to look back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/spain-s-past-is-a-cut-of-meat-turning-green-on-the-butcher-s-slab/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“as if her heart was slotting into place, a moment to breathe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/as-if-her-heart-was-slotting-into-place-a-moment-to-breathe/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“The ink was secret nectar, for Marin isn't married.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/the-ink-was-secret-nectar-for-marin-isn-t-married/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) > [“an awful combination of carelessness and determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/an-awful-combination-of-carelessness-and-determination/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) [Explore all 51 Jessie Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) ## 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": "“And it would take all my energy 'changing things' as you put it, with none left over to paint -- which is the whole bloody point of everything. The energy a man might use on -- oh, I don't know, making good work -- you want me to use on 'changing things'. You don't understand, because you've lived your life as an individual, Isaac. 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