--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest thing in the world is…" description: "\"The hardest thing in the world is believing someone can change. It's always easier to go along with the way things are than to admit that you might hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/jodi-picoult-45_believe_the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-is-believ_994326.jpg" --- # The hardest thing in the world is believing someone can… ![“The hardest thing in the world is believing someone can change. It's always easier to go along with the way things are than to admit that you might have been wrong in the first place.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/jodi-picoult-45_believe_the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-is-believ_994326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/jodi-picoult-45_believe_the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-is-believ_994326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/jodi-picoult-45_believe_the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-is-believ_994326.jpg) > “The hardest thing in the world is believing someone can change. It's always easier to go along with the way things are than to admit that you might have been wrong in the first place.” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing people can change is hard; it's easier to accept the status quo. **In simple terms:** Change is difficult to accept. Key Takeaway Stay open to growth. Themes change belief status quo Mood hopeful thoughtful Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - relationships - personal development - conflict resolution - leadership Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports change? - How can you foster openness? A Different Perspective Denial of change can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [All young women begin by believing they can change and reform the men they marry. They can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/all-young-women-begin-by-believing-they-can-change-and-reform-the-men/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“So many things happen that we can't control, its best not to worry about what we can. Believing you can change the world has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/so-many-things-happen-that-we-can-t-control-its-best-not-to-worry/) [Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/) > [Once people learned how to believe in something, that skill started spilling over to other parts of their lives, until they started believing they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/once-people-learned-how-to-believe-in-something-that-skill-started/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“they changed because they were embedded in social groups that made change easier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/they-changed-because-they-were-embedded-in-social-groups-that-made/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [A fierce and sentimental addiction to forms makes us shudder at change. It is much easier to say that the system is all right-only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ferguson/a-fierce-and-sentimental-addiction-to-forms-makes-us-shudder-at/) [Charles Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ferguson/) > [“Trying to effect change in others is a lost cause especially if you are unwilling to first change yourself. It’s easier to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/trying-to-effect-change-in-others-is-a-lost-cause-especially-if-you/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Trying to change someone is easier than trying to accept them It's how we're programmed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/trying-to-change-someone-is-easier-than-trying-to-accept-them-it-s/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“Accept what you can’t change, and change what you can. It’s easier than you think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannine-garsee/accept-what-you-can-t-change-and-change-what-you-can-it-s-easier-than/) [Jeannine Garsee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannine-garsee/) > [When you make mistakes, when you're wrong, you should admit you're wrong and ask people to forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/when-you-make-mistakes-when-you-re-wrong-you-should-admit-you-re/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [A brave man will admit when he is wrong. A prideful man will point out when he is right. A dead man will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-brave-man-will-admit-when-he-is-wrong-a-prideful-man-will-point-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I can admit when I'm wrong Decebel, geez. It just happens so rarely that it kind of catches me by surprise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/i-can-admit-when-i-m-wrong-decebel-geez-it-just-happens-so-rarely/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [The wisest of people in this world are those that admit when they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-wisest-of-people-in-this-world-are-those-that-admit-when-they-are/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Always admit when you're wrong. You'll save thousands in therapy... and a few friendships too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/always-admit-when-you-re-wrong-you-ll-save-thousands-in-therapy-and-a/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Some people need to grow up and learn how to admit when they're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-need-to-grow-up-and-learn-how-to-admit-when-they-re-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [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/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hardest thing in the world is believing someone can change. 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