--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People always say change takes time. It's…" description: "\"“People always say change takes time. It's true, but really it's people who change people, and then those people have to decide if they really want to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/kiese-laymon-23232_change_people-always-say-change-takes-time-it-s_2543834.jpg" --- # People always say change takes time. It's true, but really… ![“People always say change takes time. It's true, but really it's people who change people, and then those people have to decide if they really want to stay the new people that they're changed into.” quote by Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/kiese-laymon-23232_change_people-always-say-change-takes-time-it-s_2543834.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/kiese-laymon-23232_change_people-always-say-change-takes-time-it-s_2543834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/kiese-laymon-23232_change_people-always-say-change-takes-time-it-s_2543834.jpg) > ““People always say change takes time. It's true, but really it's people who change people, and then those people have to decide if they really want to stay the new people that they're changed into.”” [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change is driven by people influencing each other; ultimately, individuals must choose whether to accept their transformed selves. **In simple terms:** People change each other; you choose to stay changed. Key Takeaway Embrace or reject the new self you become. Themes personal growth identity influence choice Mood introspective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - self‑help - coaching - leadership development Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you resist changing? - How does external influence shape your identity? A Different Perspective Resistance to change can cause inner conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-people/) [Change Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-takes-464892/) [People change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-change/) [People Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-changed/) [People Who Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-change/) [Say Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-change/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to join the ranks of the people who changed the game, change yourself and the people around you as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe/if-you-want-to-join-the-ranks-of-the-people-who-changed-the-game/) [Bebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe/) > [When you come into a country, it's difficult to come in and say, 'I will change everything.' If people have things in their mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vieira/when-you-come-into-a-country-it-s-difficult-to-come-in-and-say-i-will/) [Patrick Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vieira/) > [People say you can't change the world. But you can change people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/people-say-you-can-t-change-the-world-but-you-can-change-people/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [You cant change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/you-cant-change-how-people-treat-you-or-what-they-say-about-you-all-2/) [ZhatsPrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhatsprincess/) > [I do think Hillary Clinton should have pivoted and say, I am change, I am change, because people do want some change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-hillary-clinton-should-have-pivoted-and-say-i-am-change-i/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [You can't change how people treat you or what they say to you. All you can do is change how you react to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-change-how-people-treat-you-or-what-they-say-to-you-all-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people say I have to change? Well, the people have to tell me what I should do to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-people-say-i-have-to-change-well-the-people-have-to-tell-me-what/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [You can't change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/you-can-t-change-how-people-treat-you-or-what-they-say-about-you-all/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [“Some people change the world. And some people change the people who change the world, and that's you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kij-johnson/some-people-change-the-world-and-some-people-change-the-people-who/) [Kij Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kij-johnson/) > [People change. I'm one of those people who change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/people-change-i-m-one-of-those-people-who-change/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) > [“Some people change the world. And some people change the people who change the world,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kij-johnson/some-people-change-the-world-and-some-people-change-the-people-who-2/) [Kij Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kij-johnson/) > [I prefer to listen to people who change their mind now and then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hassett/i-prefer-to-listen-to-people-who-change-their-mind-now-and-then/) [Kevin Hassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hassett/) > [It's always the small people who change things. It's never the politicians or the big guys. I mean, who pulled down the Berlin wall?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/it-s-always-the-small-people-who-change-things-it-s-never-the/) [Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/) > [“You know, there are moments … people. There are people who change you. Who save you, really, from yourself, from a life that didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/you-know-there-are-moments-people-there-are-people-who-change-you-who/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [People who are right most of the time are people who change their minds often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/people-who-are-right-most-of-the-time-are-people-who-change-their/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) ## More by Kiese Laymon > [I allude to Back to the Future in the 1985 story to let folks know it was an inspiration and because it literally was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-allude-to-back-to-the-future-in-the-1985-story-to-let-folks-know-it/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [“I lie in a bathtub of cold water, still sweating and singing love songs to myself. I put the gun to my head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-lie-in-a-bathtub-of-cold-water-still-sweating-and-singing-love/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I'm a black writer from Mississippi. That's what I most consider myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-a-black-writer-from-mississippi-that-s-what-i-most-consider-myself/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [In essay writing, I'm trying to push the form of expository writing. I'm trying to remember, trying to reckon, trying to find connections with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/in-essay-writing-i-m-trying-to-push-the-form-of-expository-writing-i/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I wish every American explored the importance of novel writing, identity, honesty, character and place in fresh-ass ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-wish-every-american-explored-the-importance-of-novel-writing/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [“I swear that white folks need to just shut the hell up sometimes. Y'all make it hard for everybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-swear-that-white-folks-need-to-just-shut-the-hell-up-sometimes-y/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [Long Division has a lot of Afrosurrealist impulses. I think the book was more Afrofuturist when it was like 700 pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/long-division-has-a-lot-of-afrosurrealist-impulses-i-think-the-book/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [“Y'all taught me that unacknowledged scars accumulated in battles won often hurt more than battles lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/y-all-taught-me-that-unacknowledged-scars-accumulated-in-battles-won/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [First of all, the novel should be a critique of the novels that have come before it in a language that broadens the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/first-of-all-the-novel-should-be-a-critique-of-the-novels-that-have/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I'm also, than anything else, a teacher and a student. And without the four hours, I'm pretty monsterish. For real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-also-than-anything-else-a-teacher-and-a-student-and-without-the/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I'm an obsessive writer who needs and loves revision. Writing helps me learn and helps me teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-an-obsessive-writer-who-needs-and-loves-revision-writing-helps-me/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I'm accountable - this sounds emo - to black American writing, Southern writing, Southern black American writing, American writing and my people. That's kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-accountable-this-sounds-emo-to-black-american-writing-southern/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I'm not good enough as a person and definitely not good enough as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-not-good-enough-as-a-person-and-definitely-not-good-enough-as-a/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [“I think of my grandma and remember that old feeling of being so in love that nothing matters except seeing and being seen by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-think-of-my-grandma-and-remember-that-old-feeling-of-being-so-in/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I'm interested in how the confessional is so abrasively critiqued today. I'm not really comfortable with simply confessing but I do think "confessing" is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-interested-in-how-the-confessional-is-so-abrasively-critiqued/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) [Explore all 26 Kiese Laymon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“People always say change takes time. 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