---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I do something I think is new, it will…"
description: "\"If I do something I think is new, it will be misunderstood, but if people like it, I will be disappointed because I haven't pushed them enough. The mor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png"
---

#  If I do something I think is new, it will be…

![“If I do something I think is new, it will be misunderstood, but if people like it, I will be disappointed because I haven't pushed them enough. The more people hate it, maybe the newer it is. Because the fundamental human problem is that people are afraid of change.” quote by Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png)

> “If I do something I think is new, it will be misunderstood, but if people like it, I will be disappointed because I haven't pushed them enough. The more people hate it, maybe the newer it is. Because the fundamental human problem is that people are afraid of change.”

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

## About This Quote

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

Innovative work often meets misunderstanding; acceptance may signal insufficient challenge, while criticism can indicate true novelty.

**In simple terms:** New ideas are often misunderstood.

Key Takeaway

Embrace critique, seek deeper impact.

Themes

innovation misunderstanding challenge

Mood

provocative critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- artists
- designers
- entrepreneurs

Key Concepts

creative risk audience expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you value acceptance or provocation?
- How far will you push boundaries?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on controversy can alienate audiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afraid Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-change/) [Afraid of change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-of-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Misunderstood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstood/) [Misunderstood People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstood-people-389095/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New Misunderstood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-misunderstood-1972213/) [Think New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-new/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/)

## Related quotes

> [If I do something I think is new, it will be misunderstood, but if people like it, I will be disappointed because I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will-be-misunderstood-but-if/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [Because the fundamental human problem is that people are afraid of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/because-the-fundamental-human-problem-is-that-people-are-afraid-of/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [I think that I am misunderstood because people perceive me to be a certain way because I am generational. They expect me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-blanchard/i-think-that-i-am-misunderstood-because-people-perceive-me-to-be-a/)

[Tessa Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-blanchard/)

> [Being misunderstood by people whose opinions you value is absolutely the most painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/being-misunderstood-by-people-whose-opinions-you-value-is-absolutely/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [Being misunderstood by the people you care most about...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-misunderstood-by-the-people-you-care-most-about/)

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

> [I'm so misunderstood that people misunderstand me even when I tell them I'm misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-m-so-misunderstood-that-people-misunderstand-me-even-when-i-tell/)

[Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/)

> [What happens between people is so misunderstood even between the people who are having the sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/what-happens-between-people-is-so-misunderstood-even-between-the/)

[Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/)

> [Teenagers are the most misunderstood people on earth. Treated like children but expected to act like adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenagers-are-the-most-misunderstood-people-on-earth-treated-like/)

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

> [I'm probably one of the most misunderstood people in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/i-m-probably-one-of-the-most-misunderstood-people-in-the-league/)

[LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/)

> [Teenagers are the most misunderstood people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenagers-are-the-most-misunderstood-people/)

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

> [No one has something original or important to say will willing we run the risk of being misunderstood; people who write obscurely are either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/no-one-has-something-original-or-important-to-say-will-willing-we-run/)

[William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/)

> [TEENAGER the most misunderstood people on earth, treated like children but expected to act like adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenager-the-most-misunderstood-people-on-earth-treated-like-children/)

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

> [Teenagers: The most misunderstood people on earth. Treated like children and expected to act like adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenagers-the-most-misunderstood-people-on-earth-treated-like/)

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

> [We can't be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/we-can-t-be-afraid-of-change-you-may-feel-very-secure-in-the-pond/)

[C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/)

> [Don't be afraid of change. you may lose something good, but you may gain something even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-of-change-you-may-lose-something-good-but-you-may/)

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

## More by Rei Kawakubo

> [The most successful achievers in sports are people that are really driven and have that spirit of hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-most-successful-achievers-in-sports-are-people-that-are-really/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [The more people that are afraid when they see new creation, the happier I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-more-people-that-are-afraid-when-they-see-new-creation-the/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [For me, the best way to know me is to look at my clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/for-me-the-best-way-to-know-me-is-to-look-at-my-clothing/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [I've always said that, growing up in postwar Japan, I never felt any connection to my work through those experiences. The work I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-ve-always-said-that-growing-up-in-postwar-japan-i-never-felt-any/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [It would have more meaning for me to hear what critics have to say if their values and their ways of living were deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/it-would-have-more-meaning-for-me-to-hear-what-critics-have-to-say-if/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [It was also never wanting to be part of any group or movement or anything that was the done thing. I hated organization. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/it-was-also-never-wanting-to-be-part-of-any-group-or-movement-or/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [Feeling free inside oneself is being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/feeling-free-inside-oneself-is-being-free/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [My approach is simple. It is nothing other than what I am thinking at the time I make each piece of clothing, whether I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/my-approach-is-simple-it-is-nothing-other-than-what-i-am-thinking-at/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [The theme of the collection this time is MONSTER. It's not about the typical Monster you find in sci-fi and video games. The expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-theme-of-the-collection-this-time-is-monster-it-s-not-about-the/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [The monsters I thought about are those that don't fit in - those who think differently from the majority, the people of exception, outsiders.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-monsters-i-thought-about-are-those-that-don-t-fit-in-those-who/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [It's interesting for me to sell Comme des Garcons in places it's never been sold before to people who might not have heard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/it-s-interesting-for-me-to-sell-comme-des-garcons-in-places-it-s/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [There are no limits - I endeavor to make clothes that didn't exist before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/there-are-no-limits-i-endeavor-to-make-clothes-that-didn-t-exist/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [I make clothes for a woman who is not swayed by what her husband thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-make-clothes-for-a-woman-who-is-not-swayed-by-what-her-husband/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [I am kind of like the guide, the leader of this discussion. It could be from me, it could be from other people, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-am-kind-of-like-the-guide-the-leader-of-this-discussion-it-could-be/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [I can understand how some women want to marry a rich man. They may be happy for the rest of their lives, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-can-understand-how-some-women-want-to-marry-a-rich-man-they-may-be/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

[Explore all 108 Rei Kawakubo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

## More Afraid of change quotes

> [Don't be afraid of change. you may lose something good, but you may gain something even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-of-change-you-may-lose-something-good-but-you-may/)

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

> [We can't be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/we-can-t-be-afraid-of-change-you-may-feel-very-secure-in-the-pond/)

[C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/)

> [Habit is necessary. It is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/habit-is-necessary-it-is-the-habit-of-having-habits-of-turning-a/)

[Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/)

> [Ignorance is always afraid of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/ignorance-is-always-afraid-of-change/)

[Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/)

> [Cherish every second never let a day go by without self-improvement, also never be afraid of change, your whole life will pass you by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonyg/cherish-every-second-never-let-a-day-go-by-without-self-improvement/)

[Tonyg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonyg/)

> [One can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-can-remain-alive-long-past-the-usual-date-of-disintegration-if/)

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

> [“They think the government shows people everything —how to work, study, eat, sleep and that’s it. They are afraid of change. They do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-krotov/they-think-the-government-shows-people-everything-how-to-work-study/)

[Anton Krotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-krotov/)

> [It's kind of depressing when you hear the anti-science rhetoric in America, but I think that people are just afraid of change, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/it-s-kind-of-depressing-when-you-hear-the-anti-science-rhetoric-in/)

[Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/)

> [Most people are afraid of change. But if you look at it as something you can always count on, then it can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/most-people-are-afraid-of-change-but-if-you-look-at-it-as-something/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [You can't be afraid of change, especially if it's for the better, for your own advancement..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-be-afraid-of-change-especially-if-it-s-for-the-better-for/)

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

> [As much as we pretend otherwise, we want what's comfortable, and we're afraid of the different. We're afraid of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/as-much-as-we-pretend-otherwise-we-want-what-s-comfortable-and-we-re/)

[Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/)

> [“What if I told you 10 years from now your life would be exactly the same? Doubt you'd be happy. So, why are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-salmansohn/what-if-i-told-you-10-years-from-now-your-life-would-be-exactly-the/)

[Karen Salmansohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-salmansohn/)

> [As much as people say they love change, they love it when you change - not when you want them to change. Even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/safra-a-catz/as-much-as-people-say-they-love-change-they-love-it-when-you-change/)

[Safra A. Catz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/safra-a-catz/)

> [“Don't be afraid of change. You may lose something good, but you will gain something better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-camilleri/don-t-be-afraid-of-change-you-may-lose-something-good-but-you-will/)

[Josef Camilleri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-camilleri/)

> [It's simple-minded people like that, the ones that are afraid of change, they use everything in their power to defend what they stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/it-s-simple-minded-people-like-that-the-ones-that-are-afraid-of/)

[Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/)

[Browse all 94 Afraid of change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-of-change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I do something I think is new, it will be misunderstood, but if people like it, I will be disappointed because I haven't pushed them enough. The more people hate it, maybe the newer it is. Because the fundamental human problem is that people are afraid of change.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rei Kawakubo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will-be-misunderstood-but-if-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Afraid of change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will-be-misunderstood-but-if-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/rei-kawakubo-4644_afraid-of-change_if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will_2604232.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I do something I think is new, it will be misunderstood, but if people like it, I will be disappointed…” — Rei Kawakubo",
                "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": "Rei Kawakubo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I do something I think...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will-be-misunderstood-but-if-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/if-i-do-something-i-think-is-new-it-will-be-misunderstood-but-if-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
