--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't stop a reform in the middle…" description: "\"You can't stop a reform in the middle. You do it completely and pretty fast, or you don't do it.\" — Philippe Couillard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/philippe-couillard-30880_middle_you-can-t-stop-a-reform-in-the-middle-yo_3121299.jpg" --- # You can't stop a reform in the middle. You do it… ![“You can't stop a reform in the middle. You do it completely and pretty fast, or you don't do it.” quote by Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/philippe-couillard-30880_middle_you-can-t-stop-a-reform-in-the-middle-yo_3121299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/philippe-couillard-30880_middle_you-can-t-stop-a-reform-in-the-middle-yo_3121299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/philippe-couillard-30880_middle_you-can-t-stop-a-reform-in-the-middle-yo_3121299.jpg) > “You can't stop a reform in the middle. You do it completely and pretty fast, or you don't do it.” [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reforms must be executed fully and swiftly; half‑measures fail and cause instability. **In simple terms:** Do reforms completely and fast. Key Takeaway Implement change decisively. Themes politics change strategy Mood cautious strategic Type political advisory When to use this quote - government legislation - organizational restructuring - social movements Key Concepts policy implementation change management Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to act slowly and carefully? - What risks arise from rushing reforms? A Different Perspective Rapid change can cause backlash or insufficient planning, leading to unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-completely-5481226/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Reform Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform-middle-5481225/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) [Stop Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-reform-3406623/) ## Related quotes > [You might as well try and dam Niagara Falls with toothpicks as to stop the reform wave sweeping our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/you-might-as-well-try-and-dam-niagara-falls-with-toothpicks-as-to/) [Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/) > [If you don't try to generate more revenues through tax reform, if you don't ask, you know, the most fortunate Americans to bear a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/if-you-don-t-try-to-generate-more-revenues-through-tax-reform-if-you/) [Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/) > [One day, if I feel the fear of putting my head in the middle of some battle or scrum, then I stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/one-day-if-i-feel-the-fear-of-putting-my-head-in-the-middle-of-some/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [ \[James\] Madison pointed out in the discussion of the constitutional debates - the constitutional convention - that democracy would be a danger. He used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/james-madison-pointed-out-in-the-discussion-of-the-constitutional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“All religions worthy of the name are now making great efforts to purify their doctrines and return to their original standpoint, — all except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/all-religions-worthy-of-the-name-are-now-making-great-efforts-to/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [One of the achievements of the reform movement is that people realize that they can be democrats and remain faithful Muslims. Democracy is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdolkarim-soroush/one-of-the-achievements-of-the-reform-movement-is-that-people-realize/) [Abdolkarim Soroush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdolkarim-soroush/) > [Every reform was once a private opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-reform-was-once-a-private-opinion/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Many of us believe that we need health care reform. That being said - Americans felt like they weren't being listened to. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-of-us-believe-that-we-need-health-care-reform-that-being-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Efforts to ease regulations and reform the nation's tax system have helped put this self-sustaining recovery on track, The numbers prove our policies have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/efforts-to-ease-regulations-and-reform-the-nation-s-tax-system-have/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [People who have reformed themselves has contributed their full share towards the reformation of their neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/people-who-have-reformed-themselves-has-contributed-their-full-share/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Wise men will apply their remedies to vices, not to names; to the causes of evil which are permanent, not to the occasional organs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wise-men-will-apply-their-remedies-to-vices-not-to-names-to-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More by Philippe Couillard > [In Quebec, we can no longer increase taxes if we want to stay competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-we-can-no-longer-increase-taxes-if-we-want-to-stay/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I'm as proud and assertive in my Quebec identity as any Quebecer. I believe it's to Quebec's advantage to be part of the Canadian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-m-as-proud-and-assertive-in-my-quebec-identity-as-any-quebecer-i/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [In Quebec, our goal isn't to reduce daycare service - a program the entire world envies - but to make it viable so tomorrow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-our-goal-isn-t-to-reduce-daycare-service-a-program-the/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Something I don't want to do, ever, is to put Quebec in a position of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/something-i-don-t-want-to-do-ever-is-to-put-quebec-in-a-position-of/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I think this is a line in the sand for many Quebecers and Canadians: That if you're going to give services or receive services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-think-this-is-a-line-in-the-sand-for-many-quebecers-and-canadians/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebecers are happy in Canada. We are benefiting economically and fiscally from belonging to Canada. We're proud of being Canadian. It's a great country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebecers-are-happy-in-canada-we-are-benefiting-economically-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [ I belong to a generation that had so many choices available. In 1970, when \[former premier Robert\] Bourassa launched the James Bay development project,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-many-choices-available-in-1970/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Hey, the bait is here. Get in Quebecers, get in the lobster trap, and then we’ll close the door. And you’ll have a referendum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/hey-the-bait-is-here-get-in-quebecers-get-in-the-lobster-trap-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebec's distinct character makes Canada an even better country, and vice versa: being in Canada makes Quebec a better place too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebec-s-distinct-character-makes-canada-an-even-better-country-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I always remind Quebecers: hey, wait a minute - federalism works. If you look at the fiscal arrangements, the economic arrangements, the way the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-always-remind-quebecers-hey-wait-a-minute-federalism-works-if-you/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I often repeat three numbers: 20-23-26. Quebec generates only 20 per cent of Canada's wealth; it represents 23 per cent of the population, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-often-repeat-three-numbers-20-23-26-quebec-generates-only-20-per/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [We have to redesign the finances of the Quebec state to preserve what counts: education, health and families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/we-have-to-redesign-the-finances-of-the-quebec-state-to-preserve-what/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebec's financial situation is serious. In terms of intensity, we're close to matching 1982 and 1997. We won't do the same things this time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebec-s-financial-situation-is-serious-in-terms-of-intensity-we-re/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I've repeated it 100 times and I'm going to look you in the eye, tonight, Mr. Couillard: there will be no referendum as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-ve-repeated-it-100-times-and-i-m-going-to-look-you-in-the-eye/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Not only in Canada but in other countries where we have to rely on immigration for our growth, the question of coexistence of values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/not-only-in-canada-but-in-other-countries-where-we-have-to-rely-on/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) [Explore all 17 Philippe Couillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) ## More Middle quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [Rampant eclecticism is my middle name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/rampant-eclecticism-is-my-middle-name/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Going to a site with more users seems obviously better to me, but at the same time, having a bland, middle of the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-rudder/going-to-a-site-with-more-users-seems-obviously-better-to-me-but-at/) [Christian Rudder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-rudder/) > [I can get runs much faster if I stay there in the middle to give bowlers more time and cushion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/i-can-get-runs-much-faster-if-i-stay-there-in-the-middle-to-give/) [K. 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