--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can learn to change the world or go…" description: "\"You can learn to change the world or go on being changed by it.\" — Laurence Yep" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg" --- # You can learn to change the world or go on being changed… ![“You can learn to change the world or go on being changed by it.” quote by Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg) > “You can learn to change the world or go on being changed by it.” [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals can either actively work to change the world or passively allow it to change them, emphasizing personal agency. **In simple terms:** You can change the world or be changed by it. Key Takeaway Take proactive steps to shape your environment. Themes agency empowerment social change personal development choice responsibility Mood motivational empowering Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - political engagement - personal habits - social movements Key Concepts activism career decisions education community involvement Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to influence change? - How do you resist being shaped by external forces? A Different Perspective Passive acceptance can lead to loss of control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Change World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-world/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Learn Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-change-339727/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-changed-234255/) ## Related quotes > [The young think about how they'll change the world, the old think about how the world has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/the-young-think-about-how-they-ll-change-the-world-the-old-think/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [We have to raise the consciousness; the only way poets can change the world is to raise the consciousness of the general populace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/we-have-to-raise-the-consciousness-the-only-way-poets-can-change-the/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [When I retire, I want to step away on a positive note. What you put out into the world comes back to you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/when-i-retire-i-want-to-step-away-on-a-positive-note-what-you-put-out/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If we're going to change the world for the better, kids need to know that they can by feeling good about who they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/if-we-re-going-to-change-the-world-for-the-better-kids-need-to-know/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [What is needed today is for all of us to work to change the world's mind about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/what-is-needed-today-is-for-all-of-us-to-work-to-change-the-world-s/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“As for me, all I’ve ever wanted, when you get right down to it, is to change the world. I don’t literally mean the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-gaines/as-for-me-all-i-ve-ever-wanted-when-you-get-right-down-to-it-is-to/) [Chip Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-gaines/) > [We can only change the world if we have a heart for the world and deliver the message for the world. We can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell/we-can-only-change-the-world-if-we-have-a-heart-for-the-world-and/) [Jerry Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell/) > [If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-start-off-by-making-your-bed/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [Carry yourself as one who will change the world, because you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/carry-yourself-as-one-who-will-change-the-world-because-you-will/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [I'm not out to change the world. I'm out to change mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-white/i-m-not-out-to-change-the-world-i-m-out-to-change-mine/) [Rodney White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-white/) > [The only way to change the world is to change the main character of our story - the one we believe that we are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-the-main-character-of/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [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/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) ## More by Laurence Yep > [“Just think of it as a picnic with guns and monsters instead of mosquitoes and ants. Do we have fun or what?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/just-think-of-it-as-a-picnic-with-guns-and-monsters-instead-of/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“The with forbidden the death of warriors”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/the-with-forbidden-the-death-of-warriors/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [Sometimes it's easier to be as bad as they expect you to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/sometimes-it-s-easier-to-be-as-bad-as-they-expect-you-to-be/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“And, as the tiny lights drift into the blackness, the people pray that others around the world will remember Hiroshima and work for world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/and-as-the-tiny-lights-drift-into-the-blackness-the-people-pray-that/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“If you throw up," Kles said unsympathetically, "remember not to face the wind." "Yeah, Koko. You're the one who's been complaining about doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/if-you-throw-up-kles-said-unsympathetically-remember-not-to-face-the/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“And all of a sudden I saw that if life seems awfully petty most of the time, every now and then there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/and-all-of-a-sudden-i-saw-that-if-life-seems-awfully-petty-most-of/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [Kindness comes with no price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/kindness-comes-with-no-price/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“Things are going to happen that you can’t control. You can’t let it bother you. You have to try your best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/things-are-going-to-happen-that-you-can-t-control-you-can-t-let-it/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [For me writing is a long, hard, painful process, but it is addictive, a pleasure that I seek out actively. My advice to young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/for-me-writing-is-a-long-hard-painful-process-but-it-is-addictive-a/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“She's trying to sabotage all the magic holding this island together. But that would create a catastrophe for all of Hawaii." "Well, that does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/she-s-trying-to-sabotage-all-the-magic-holding-this-island-together/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [“Scientists say that if the bombs drop again, no one will win because no one will survive. All life on Earth will end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/scientists-say-that-if-the-bombs-drop-again-no-one-will-win-because/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [I only knew that there was a certain rightness in life--the feeling you got when you did something the way you knew you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/i-only-knew-that-there-was-a-certain-rightness-in-life-the-feeling/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) > [Just because there's tarnish on the copper, doesn't mean there's not a shine beneath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/just-because-there-s-tarnish-on-the-copper-doesn-t-mean-there-s-not-a/) [Laurence Yep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) [Explore all 14 Laurence Yep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/) ## 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": "You can learn to change the world or go on being changed by it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurence Yep" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go-on-being-changed-by-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go-on-being-changed-by-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/laurence-yep-34920_change_you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go_2941216.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can learn to change the world or go on being changed by it.” — Laurence Yep", "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": "Laurence Yep", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-yep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can learn to change the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go-on-being-changed-by-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-yep/you-can-learn-to-change-the-world-or-go-on-being-changed-by-it/#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 } } ] } ```