--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the history of the changes produced…" description: "\"But the history of the changes produced by a universal idea is not a history of changes in the individual, but of changes brought about by the successi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png" --- # But the history of the changes produced by a universal… ![“But the history of the changes produced by a universal idea is not a history of changes in the individual, but of changes brought about by the successive efforts of millions of individuals in the course of many generations.” quote by Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png) > “But the history of the changes produced by a universal idea is not a history of changes in the individual, but of changes brought about by the successive efforts of millions of individuals in the course of many generations.” [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Universal ideas change societies through collective effort over generations, not just individuals. **In simple terms:** Ideas spread through many people over time. Key Takeaway Cultivate collaborative change. Themes history ideas collective action Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - policy - community projects Key Concepts social evolution cultural diffusion Questions to Reflect On - How can you join collective movements? - What ideas inspire you? A Different Perspective Individual impact can be limited without collective support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) ## Related quotes > [When we think that the machine will harm man, then it is perhaps because we are not yet capable of judging the rapid changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/when-we-think-that-the-machine-will-harm-man-then-it-is-perhaps/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [As one individual changes, the system changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/as-one-individual-changes-the-system-changes/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [There is a major ingredient missing from our perception of how changes are brought about; that ingredient is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wellstone/there-is-a-major-ingredient-missing-from-our-perception-of-how/) [Paul Wellstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wellstone/) > [When an individual changes in even a small way he immediately changes the world around him. And that concentric circle moves out and changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shadyac/when-an-individual-changes-in-even-a-small-way-he-immediately-changes/) [Tom Shadyac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shadyac/) > [“And on a difference of three minutes, all of history changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/and-on-a-difference-of-three-minutes-all-of-history-changes/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [Oh, my dear Vimes, history changes all the time. It is constantly being re-examined and re-evaluated, otherwise how would we be able to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/oh-my-dear-vimes-history-changes-all-the-time-it-is-constantly-being/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The reason for teaching history is not that it changes society, but that it changes pupils; it changes what they see in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lee/the-reason-for-teaching-history-is-not-that-it-changes-society-but/) Peter Lee > [“Sometimes painfully lost people can teach us lessons that we didn't think we needed to know, or be reminded of---the more history changes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/sometimes-painfully-lost-people-can-teach-us-lessons-that-we-didn-t/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“It is the violent act that makes history and changes everything that came before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/it-is-the-violent-act-that-makes-history-and-changes-everything-that/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Someone asked me very recently why I have 8 million views on TED - "your work resonates, what are you doing?" What I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/someone-asked-me-very-recently-why-i-have-8-million-views-on-ted-your/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Something worth doing might take a while, so really flesh out the potential of the business and be honest about whether it's worth doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/something-worth-doing-might-take-a-while-so-really-flesh-out-the/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) ## More by Lafcadio Hearn > [“Ere morning the storm had passed; and day broke through a cloudless east. Even if the sleeve of Aoyagi hid from her lover's eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/ere-morning-the-storm-had-passed-and-day-broke-through-a-cloudless/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [At last, in 1611, was made, under the auspices of King James, the famous King James version; and this is the great literary monument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/at-last-in-1611-was-made-under-the-auspices-of-king-james-the-famous/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Let those who want to hatch hatch their own eggs. ----Martinique proverb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/let-those-who-want-to-hatch-hatch-their-own-eggs-martinique-proverb/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [There was very little suicide among the men of the North, because every man considered it his duty to get killed, not to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-was-very-little-suicide-among-the-men-of-the-north-because/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-every-great-scripture-whether-hebrew-indian-persian-or-chinese/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“It may remain for us to learn… that our task is only beginning, and that there will never be given to us even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/it-may-remain-for-us-to-learn-that-our-task-is-only-beginning-and/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Then a scream of steam, a mighty jolt; and the thunder-rattle recommences, and the train again begins to rock in mad storms of dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/then-a-scream-of-steam-a-mighty-jolt-and-the-thunder-rattle/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Some persons have ventured to say that it is only since Englishmen ceased to believe in the Bible that they began to discover how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/some-persons-have-ventured-to-say-that-it-is-only-since-englishmen/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-is-one-type-of-ideal-woman-very-seldom-described-in-poetry-the/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [A proof of really great art is that it is generally true - it seldom falls into the misapprehensions to which minor art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/a-proof-of-really-great-art-is-that-it-is-generally-true-it-seldom/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Našao je zemlju izlazećeg sunca pa je pšenično zrno, koje je neplodno, bacakano vetrom, najzad naišlo na grudu zemlje koja će ga primiti da…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/na-ao-je-zemlju-izlaze-eg-sunca-pa-je-p-eni-no-zrno-koje-je-neplodno/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [But what is after all the happiness of mere power? There is a greater happiness possible than to be lord of heaven and earth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-what-is-after-all-the-happiness-of-mere-power-there-is-a-greater/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [The fact, however, to which I want to call attention is that the master of Judo never relies upon his own strength. He scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/the-fact-however-to-which-i-want-to-call-attention-is-that-the-master/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Times are not good here. The city is crumbling into ashes. It has been buried under taxes and frauds and maladministrations so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/times-are-not-good-here-the-city-is-crumbling-into-ashes-it-has-been/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Woo the muse of the odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/woo-the-muse-of-the-odd/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) [Explore all 67 Lafcadio Hearn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) ## 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": "But the history of the changes produced by a universal idea is not a history of changes in the individual, but of changes brought about by the successive efforts of millions of individuals in the course of many generations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lafcadio Hearn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced-by-a-universal-idea-is-not-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced-by-a-universal-idea-is-not-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/lafcadio-hearn-10164_change_but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced_1886209.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But the history of the changes produced by a universal idea is not a history of changes in the individual…” — Lafcadio Hearn", "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": "Lafcadio Hearn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But the history of the changes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced-by-a-universal-idea-is-not-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-the-history-of-the-changes-produced-by-a-universal-idea-is-not-a/#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 } } ] } ```