--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't legislate to change human nature." description: "\"I can't legislate to change human nature.\" — John Major" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png" --- # I can't legislate to change human nature. ![“I can't legislate to change human nature.” quote by John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png) > “I can't legislate to change human nature.” [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature cannot be altered by legislation alone. **In simple terms:** Laws can't change human nature. Key Takeaway Focus on cultural change. Themes politics human nature legislation Mood pragmatic thoughtful Type political analytical When to use this quote - lawmaking - education reform - community building Key Concepts Social psychology policy limits Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of human nature resist law? - Can education replace legislation? A Different Perspective Legal measures may be insufficient without societal shift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“Because when it comes down to it, the only thing that will never change is human nature. When given the choice, people will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/because-when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-only-thing-that-will-never/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Man is a talking animal and he will always let himself be swayed by the power of the word. Machines won't change human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/man-is-a-talking-animal-and-he-will-always-let-himself-be-swayed-by/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“One of the best ways to change human behavior is to gather people with similar problems together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-best-ways-to-change-human-behavior-is-to-gather-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People are afraid of change. We all are. Human beings are afraid of change, but change can be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-pinkner/people-are-afraid-of-change-we-all-are-human-beings-are-afraid-of/) [Jeff Pinkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-pinkner/) > [This is a day of little faith - of few convictions - a day when men seem to have no great causes and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-marshall/this-is-a-day-of-little-faith-of-few-convictions-a-day-when-men-seem/) [Peter Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-marshall/) > [The only way to get change is not through the courts or — heaven forbid — the politicians, but through a change of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-marmon-silko/the-only-way-to-get-change-is-not-through-the-courts-or-heaven-forbid/) [Leslie Marmon Silko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-marmon-silko/) > [“The best... measure of innovation is change in human behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-butterfield/the-best-measure-of-innovation-is-change-in-human-behavior/) Stuart Butterfield > [“Laws have never been able to change human nature, and only God can change hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-mitchell/laws-have-never-been-able-to-change-human-nature-and-only-god-can/) [Siri Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-mitchell/) > [We cannot hope to change human nature. 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Can if make one feel taller, more alive, handsomer, uncommonly gifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moss-hart/can-success-change-the-human-mechanism-so-completely-between-one-dawn/) [Moss Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moss-hart/) > [I mean, you know, you're not going to change the human animal. And the human animal really doesn't get a lot smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-you-know-you-re-not-going-to-change-the-human-animal-and-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More by John Major > [I think it's extremely unlikely that the European Union will fracture with nations dropping off the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-it-s-extremely-unlikely-that-the-european-union-will-fracture/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/the-politician-who-never-made-a-mistake-never-made-a-decision/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [A consensus politician is someone who does something that he doesn't believe is right because it keeps people quiet when he does it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/a-consensus-politician-is-someone-who-does-something-that-he-doesn-t/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I'm very proud of what my parents achieved and what they stood for. They didn't have much, but in many ways they were richer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-m-very-proud-of-what-my-parents-achieved-and-what-they-stood-for/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [You cannot think of Margaret without Denis. There comes a time when every Prime Minister needs someone to give him or her the unvarnished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/you-cannot-think-of-margaret-without-denis-there-comes-a-time-when/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I am not running as Son of Margaret Thatcher. I have my own priorities and my own programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-am-not-running-as-son-of-margaret-thatcher-i-have-my-own-priorities/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I inherited a sick economy and passed on a sound one. But one abiding regret for me is that, in between, I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-inherited-a-sick-economy-and-passed-on-a-sound-one-but-one-abiding/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I like the best of the British press. The best of the British press is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-like-the-best-of-the-british-press-the-best-of-the-british-press-is/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I think we can get respect for Parliament back providing governments and oppositions are frank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-we-can-get-respect-for-parliament-back-providing-governments/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [When the euro was born, it was born in the wrong economic circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/when-the-euro-was-born-it-was-born-in-the-wrong-economic-circumstances/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I want to see us build a country that is at ease with itself, a country that is confident and a country that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-want-to-see-us-build-a-country-that-is-at-ease-with-itself-a/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [If is a very big preposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/if-is-a-very-big-preposition/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/it-is-time-to-return-to-those-core-values-time-to-get-back-to-basics/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I don't have a shred of regret about entering the exchange-rate mechanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-have-a-shred-of-regret-about-entering-the-exchange-rate/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Disunity costs votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/disunity-costs-votes/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) [Explore all 82 John Major quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) ## 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": "I can't legislate to change human nature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Major" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/john-major-8314_change_i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature_2436286.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can't legislate to change human nature.” — John Major", "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": "John Major", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can't legislate to change human...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-can-t-legislate-to-change-human-nature/#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 } } ] } ```