Change Quote by Marcel Proust
““We believe that we can change the things around us in accordance with our desires—we believe it because otherwise we can see no favourable outcome. We do not think of the outcome which generally comes to pass and is also favourable: we do not succeed in changing things in accordance with our desires, but gradually our desires change.””
About This Quote
The passage suggests that while we aim to change the world to fit our desires, often our desires adapt to reality, indicating a reciprocal relationship between aspiration and circumstance.
In simple terms: Desires and reality influence each other over time.
Key Takeaway
Accept that goals may shift as circumstances change.
Themes
change
desire
adaptation
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
reflective
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- career planning
- relationship dynamics
- creative projects
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
self‑actualization
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal ambition with external constraints?
- When have your desires evolved unexpectedly?
A Different Perspective
It may underestimate agency in effecting change.
![“Despite his persecutions, Mr. [Upton] Sinclair reveals himself in Money Writes! to be an enviable man. Always the thing he desires to believe is the thing he feels he knows to be true.” quote by Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18f/dorothy-parker-700_being-true_despite-his-persecutions-mr-upton-sincla_1278983.jpg)
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
