---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To change rules that are already in place…"
description: "\"To change rules that are already in place takes time, energy, perseverance and a lot of hard work. You only have so many of these assets at your dispos..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png"
---

#  To change rules that are already in place takes time…

![“To change rules that are already in place takes time, energy, perseverance and a lot of hard work. You only have so many of these assets at your disposal, so choose with care the rules you want to change.” quote by Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png)

> “To change rules that are already in place takes time, energy, perseverance and a lot of hard work. You only have so many of these assets at your disposal, so choose with care the rules you want to change.”

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

## About This Quote

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

Changing established rules demands significant resources; prioritize which rules to target wisely.

**In simple terms:** Rule change needs effort and focus.

Key Takeaway

Pick battles wisely.

Themes

strategy resource management change

Mood

determined pragmatic

Type

advice strategic

When to use this quote

- business restructuring
- policy reform
- personal habits
- organizational change

Key Concepts

effort perseverance prioritization

Questions to Reflect On

- Which rule change will yield the greatest impact?
- How can you conserve energy while pursuing change?

A Different Perspective

Limited resources may prevent addressing all needed changes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Assets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assets/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Care Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-rules-3209559/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-rules-417724/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Rules Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-want-823230/) [Take time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-change/)

## Related quotes

> [“You have to break the rules, if you want to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blekingegadebanden/you-have-to-break-the-rules-if-you-want-to-change-the-world/)

[Blekingegadebanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blekingegadebanden/)

> [When you go out on a football field, you are responsible for taking care of yourself. The more rules you get, the less players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/when-you-go-out-on-a-football-field-you-are-responsible-for-taking/)

[Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/)

> [Most people don’t care who rules, as long as their lives don’t change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/most-people-don-t-care-who-rules-as-long-as-their-lives-don-t-change/)

[L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/)

> [So the next thing I assume I'll be hearing from Republicans, they want to change rules some way, as they do on the House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/so-the-next-thing-i-assume-i-ll-be-hearing-from-republicans-they-want/)

[Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/)

> [In my opinion, there are no rules! If you want to rock a trend, I say go for it, and just know that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mally-roncal/in-my-opinion-there-are-no-rules-if-you-want-to-rock-a-trend-i-say-go/)

[Mally Roncal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mally-roncal/)

> [“Haven't we been through enough? We've tried fighting it but what's the point? Sometimes rules need to be broken. I think it's time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-roth/haven-t-we-been-through-enough-we-ve-tried-fighting-it-but-what-s-the/)

[Kate Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-roth/)

> [If you give the audience what they expect, they'll be bored. There are no rules: You do what you want while respecting the boundaries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vaughn/if-you-give-the-audience-what-they-expect-they-ll-be-bored-there-are/)

[Matthew Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vaughn/)

> [The truth is that I want to fight in the old Pride rules, I want to kick guys in the face on the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanderlei-silva/the-truth-is-that-i-want-to-fight-in-the-old-pride-rules-i-want-to/)

[Wanderlei Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanderlei-silva/)

> [I don't follow any fashion rules. I do whatever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hill/i-don-t-follow-any-fashion-rules-i-do-whatever-i-want/)

[Taylor Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hill/)

> [“He took my hand, interlacing our fingers. “We can make whatever rules we want. You have every right to question me, push me—both in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-took-my-hand-interlacing-our-fingers-we-can-make-whatever-rules-we/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“I have rules, and I want you to comply with them. They are for your benefit and for my pleasure. If you follow these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-have-rules-and-i-want-you-to-comply-with-them-they-are-for-your/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [It is the beginning of wisdom when you recognize that the best you can do is choose which rules you want to live by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/it-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom-when-you-recognize-that-the-best-you/)

[Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/)

> [While we believe there are fruitful opportunities to update and improve old rules, we do not want to set up a review process that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/while-we-believe-there-are-fruitful-opportunities-to-update-and/)

[Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/)

> [There's a bunch of rules that I want to break. I have a rule-breaking streak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/there-s-a-bunch-of-rules-that-i-want-to-break-i-have-a-rule-breaking/)

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

> [My thing is, when you put a bunch of rules on a tour, you have to hire three more people to enforce all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/my-thing-is-when-you-put-a-bunch-of-rules-on-a-tour-you-have-to-hire/)

[Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/)

## More by Peter McWilliams

> [Heroes became heroes flaws and all gives us hope. "You mean I don't have to be perfect to fulfill my Dream, to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/heroes-became-heroes-flaws-and-all-gives-us-hope-you-mean-i-don-t/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Choosing what you want to do, and when to do it, is an act of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/choosing-what-you-want-to-do-and-when-to-do-it-is-an-act-of-creation/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [there is nothing to be done. only accept it... and hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/there-is-nothing-to-be-done-only-accept-it-and-hurt/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Nothing adventured, nothing attained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/nothing-adventured-nothing-attained/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [If you want peace with others, don't fight them. Go your own way. Live your own life. If some walk with you, fine. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/if-you-want-peace-with-others-don-t-fight-them-go-your-own-way-live/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Pettiness seems to go hand in hand with vindictiveness. The smaller the person, the larger the need for revenge. This may account for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/pettiness-seems-to-go-hand-in-hand-with-vindictiveness-the-smaller/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Prison is a crash course in the darker side of life. Few survive it without becoming a different person: more cynical, jaded, fearful, angry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/prison-is-a-crash-course-in-the-darker-side-of-life-few-survive-it/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [One of the great joys of life is creativity. Information goes in, gets shuffled about, and comes out in new and interesting ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/one-of-the-great-joys-of-life-is-creativity-information-goes-in-gets/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Nausea is an unsolved problem of medicine and marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/nausea-is-an-unsolved-problem-of-medicine-and-marijuana-is-the-finest/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Worrying is the interest paid on a debt you may not owe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/worrying-is-the-interest-paid-on-a-debt-you-may-not-owe/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Be easier on yourself, on everyone, on everything. Suspend your judgments on the way things should be, must be, and ought to be. Suspending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/be-easier-on-yourself-on-everyone-on-everything-suspend-your/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [I feel that I am entitled to take medicinal marijuana. In general, I believe that everyone who has a doctor's prescription is entitled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/i-feel-that-i-am-entitled-to-take-medicinal-marijuana-in-general-i/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Running from fear only strengthens fear-you are demonstrating that fear has power over you. Fear must be faced and gone through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/running-from-fear-only-strengthens-fear-you-are-demonstrating-that/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Positive thoughts: joy, happiness, fulfillment, achievement, worthiness, have positive results: enthusiasm, calm, well-being, ease, energy, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/positive-thoughts-joy-happiness-fulfillment-achievement-worthiness/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Some people think that meditation takes time away from physical accomplishment. Taken to extremes, of course, that's true. Most people, however, find that meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/some-people-think-that-meditation-takes-time-away-from-physical/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

[Explore all 177 Peter McWilliams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

## More Assets quotes

> [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [Most people put money in their piggy bank. I buy a goose that lays golden eggs over and over again. That's what an asset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/most-people-put-money-in-their-piggy-bank-i-buy-a-goose-that-lays/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [Groupon has some interesting assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cohler/groupon-has-some-interesting-assets/)

[Matt Cohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cohler/)

> [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/)

[Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/)

> [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader &amp; an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/)

[Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/)

> [Why doesn't the United States take over the monarchy and unite with England? England does have important assets. Naturally the longer you wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/why-doesn-t-the-united-states-take-over-the-monarchy-and-unite-with/)

[W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/)

> [You have great assets if you're a dual-threat, but you still have to throw from the pocket and do all those types of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-mariota/you-have-great-assets-if-you-re-a-dual-threat-but-you-still-have-to/)

[Marcus Mariota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-mariota/)

> [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/)

[Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/)

> [I think Kwame will be an asset to the Lakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-think-kwame-will-be-an-asset-to-the-lakers/)

[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/)

> [ \[When I die\], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regretting-missed-opportunities/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/)

[Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/)

> [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/)

[Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/)

> [I was impressed for the ten thousandth time by the fact that literature illuminates life only for those to whom books are a necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/i-was-impressed-for-the-ten-thousandth-time-by-the-fact-that/)

[Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/)

> [If God was the owner, I was the manager. I needed to adopt a steward's mentality toward the assets He had entrusted - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-god-was-the-owner-i-was-the-manager-i-needed-to-adopt-a-steward-s/)

[Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/)

[Browse all 957 Assets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assets/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To change rules that are already in place takes time, energy, perseverance and a lot of hard work. You only have so many of these assets at your disposal, so choose with care the rules you want to change.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Peter McWilliams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-place-takes-time-energy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Assets"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-place-takes-time-energy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/peter-mcwilliams-2236_assets_to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-plac_3178987.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To change rules that are already in place takes time, energy, perseverance and a lot of hard work. You only…” — Peter McWilliams",
                "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": "Peter McWilliams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To change rules that are already...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-place-takes-time-energy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/to-change-rules-that-are-already-in-place-takes-time-energy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
