---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And don't be frightened: you can always…"
description: "\"And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands.\" — Nora Ephron"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg"
---

#  And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind…

![“And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands.” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg)

> “And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands.”

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

You can always shift your perspective and life choices, regardless of past decisions.

**In simple terms:** Change your mind whenever needed.

Key Takeaway

Embrace flexibility.

Themes

adaptability career relationships personal growth resilience

Mood

reflective empowering

Type

advice personal

When to use this quote

- career transition
- relationship decisions
- personal crises
- midlife changes

Key Concepts

identity choice risk reinvention

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you change if fear vanished?
- How do you balance continuity with change?

A Different Perspective

Changing often can cause instability or regret.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Changing your mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-your-mind/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Husbands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husbands/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

## Related quotes

> [Maybe young women don't wonder whether they can have it all any longer, but in case any of you are wondering, of course you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/maybe-young-women-don-t-wonder-whether-they-can-have-it-all-any/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [You have to change your mind with every orchestra because every orchestra has a different character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-masur/you-have-to-change-your-mind-with-every-orchestra-because-every/)

[Kurt Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-masur/)

> [It is your choice to be happy. Make up your mind to enjoy this day, to have a blessed, prosperous, victorious year. You may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/it-is-your-choice-to-be-happy-make-up-your-mind-to-enjoy-this-day-to/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Don't commit suicide, because you might change your mind two weeks later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/don-t-commit-suicide-because-you-might-change-your-mind-two-weeks/)

[Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/)

> [You have the RIGHT to change your mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-have-the-right-to-change-your-mind/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [What are you thinking about? What you focus on right now will tend to come into your life a little later. Here's your reminder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-vitale/what-are-you-thinking-about-what-you-focus-on-right-now-will-tend-to/)

[Joe Vitale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-vitale/)

> [You don't need to take a course or buy a product. All you have to do is change your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-course-or-buy-a-product-all-you-have-to-do/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [Change your mind and it will change your life. If nothing around you changes, changes the things that are around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-gibson/change-your-mind-and-it-will-change-your-life-if-nothing-around-you/)

[Tyrese Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-gibson/)

> [Everyone wants to make good decisions. But how do you know when you are being guided by the Eck (Holy Spirit) or the mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/everyone-wants-to-make-good-decisions-but-how-do-you-know-when-you/)

[Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/)

> [You change your mind Like a girl changes clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/you-change-your-mind-like-a-girl-changes-clothes/)

[Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/)

> [Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world. What you see reflects your thinking. And your thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seek-not-to-change-the-world-but-choose-to-change-your-mind-about-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When the facts change, you change your mind. I know that is a hard concept for people to get sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/when-the-facts-change-you-change-your-mind-i-know-that-is-a-hard/)

[James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/)

> [Occasions when you can change your mind should be cherished, because they mean you're smarter than you were before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/occasions-when-you-can-change-your-mind-should-be-cherished-because/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [Disappointment is temporary. Only your thought about it is permanent. Change your mind about what has disappointed you and you will change your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/disappointment-is-temporary-only-your-thought-about-it-is-permanent/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [I care so deeply about this matter that I'm willing to take on the legal penalties, to sit in this prison cell, to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-care-so-deeply-about-this-matter-that-i-m-willing-to-take-on-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

## More by Nora Ephron

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know - it's everywhere. You could be next. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/death-is-a-sniper-it-strikes-people-you-love-people-you-like-people/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> ['When you slip on a banana peel, people laugh at you. When you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it's your laugh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/when-you-slip-on-a-banana-peel-people-laugh-at-you-when-you-tell/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“I wish he were better at hailing taxis than I am; on the other hand, I realize that expectation is culturally conditioned, utterly foolish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-wish-he-were-better-at-hailing-taxis-than-i-am-on-the-other-hand-i/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-enter-into-a-certain-amount-of-madness-when-you-marry-a-person/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [I never went near the Wellesley College chapel in my four years there, but I am still amazed at the amount of Christian charity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-never-went-near-the-wellesley-college-chapel-in-my-four-years-there/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [You can't call yourself a feminist if you don't believe in the right to abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-can-t-call-yourself-a-feminist-if-you-don-t-believe-in-the-right/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“I always read the last page of a book first so that if I die before I finish I'll know how it turned out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-always-read-the-last-page-of-a-book-first-so-that-if-i-die-before-i/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“If I was home alone at night, I cooked myself an entire meal from one of these cookbooks. Then I sat down in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/if-i-was-home-alone-at-night-i-cooked-myself-an-entire-meal-from-one/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“The next man I was involved with lived in Boston. He taught me to cook mushrooms. He taught me that if you heat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-next-man-i-was-involved-with-lived-in-boston-he-taught-me-to-cook/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/whatever-you-choose-however-many-roads-you-travel-i-hope-that-you/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [A man who finishes a book is always alone when he finishes it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/a-man-who-finishes-a-book-is-always-alone-when-he-finishes-it/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“I hear myself saying these words: What this movement is about is options. I say it to friends who are frustrated, or housebound, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-hear-myself-saying-these-words-what-this-movement-is-about-is/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

[Explore all 272 Nora Ephron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

Alison James

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/)

[Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/)

> [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/)

[Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/)

[Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/)

[Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/)

[Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nora Ephron"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-change-your-mind-i-know-i-ve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Career"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-change-your-mind-i-know-i-ve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/nora-ephron-1217_career_and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-c_2474045.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands.” — Nora Ephron",
                "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": "Nora Ephron",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "And don't be frightened: you can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-change-your-mind-i-know-i-ve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/and-don-t-be-frightened-you-can-always-change-your-mind-i-know-i-ve/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
