--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can change anything you want. You…" description: "\"You can change anything you want. You just can't change everything you want.\" — Peter McWilliams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/peter-mcwilliams-2236_accept_you-can-change-anything-you-want-you-jus_1658346.png" --- # You can change anything you want. You just can't change… ![“You can change anything you want. You just can't change everything you want.” quote by Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/peter-mcwilliams-2236_accept_you-can-change-anything-you-want-you-jus_1658346.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/peter-mcwilliams-2236_accept_you-can-change-anything-you-want-you-jus_1658346.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/peter-mcwilliams-2236_accept_you-can-change-anything-you-want-you-jus_1658346.png) > “You can change anything you want. You just can't change everything you want.” [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. You can achieve specific goals, but you must accept limits on total desires. **In simple terms:** You can change some things, not all. Key Takeaway Focus on what you can change. Themes self‑improvement realism goal‑setting Mood determined reflective Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - personal finance - health habits - relationship goals Key Concepts agency constraint prioritization Questions to Reflect On - What single change would most improve your life? - How do you decide which desires to let go? A Different Perspective You may become overwhelmed trying to control too many variables. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [For now realize that you can change anything you want, but you can't change everything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/for-now-realize-that-you-can-change-anything-you-want-but-you-can-t/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Don't change who you are. You don't need to change. they don't like you, then they don't like you just be yourself never change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-whalen/don-t-change-who-you-are-you-don-t-need-to-change-they-don-t-like-you/) [Savannah Whalen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-whalen/) > [We just can't change the rules if we don't like the results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-s-miller/we-just-can-t-change-the-rules-if-we-don-t-like-the-results/) [Candice S. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-s-miller/) > [Just because I can't change everything, doesn't mean I shouldn't try to change anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcilrath/just-because-i-can-t-change-everything-doesn-t-mean-i-shouldn-t-try/) [Tim McIlrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcilrath/) > [If you're outraged at conditions, then you can't possibly be free or happy until you devote all your time to changing them and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/if-you-re-outraged-at-conditions-then-you-can-t-possibly-be-free-or/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [Good people are found not changed. They can change themselves, but you can't change them. You want good people, you have to find them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-they-can-change-themselves-but-you/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Acceptance is not a state of passivity or inaction. We are not saying you can't change the world, right wrongs or replace evil with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/acceptance-is-not-a-state-of-passivity-or-inaction-we-are-not-saying/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Until you're willing to accept what already is - the things of your past that you can't change - there's no space for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/until-you-re-willing-to-accept-what-already-is-the-things-of-your/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [You can't change someone. The best thing you can do for someone is to just accept them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-wilson/you-can-t-change-someone-the-best-thing-you-can-do-for-someone-is-to/) Guy Wilson > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [“Invest in the change you want to see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mawere-mutumwa/invest-in-the-change-you-want-to-see/) Mawere Mutumwa > [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/) > [You can't change your life. This mode in literature goes against the more middle-brown mode, which is about shaping your destiny, changing it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/you-can-t-change-your-life-this-mode-in-literature-goes-against-the/) Tommy McCarthy > [Always See The Good In Everyone. Don't Seek In The Faults Of Others. It Brings Peace In Your Life. Sometimes, Things Cannot Be Changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/always-see-the-good-in-everyone-don-t-seek-in-the-faults-of-others-it/) Pacifiersucker > [You don't just change your whole life in one big step. It's the small things you do every day that pull over to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-dermansky/you-don-t-just-change-your-whole-life-in-one-big-step-it-s-the-small/) [Marcy Dermansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-dermansky/) ## 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 Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) Chan Heng Chee > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can change anything you want. 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