--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since we cannot have what we are…" description: "\"“Since we cannot have what we are unwilling to become, social change is not possible without personal transformation.”\" — Rev. Deborah L. Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg" --- # Since we cannot have what we are unwilling to become… ![“Since we cannot have what we are unwilling to become, social change is not possible without personal transformation.” quote by Rev. Deborah L. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg) > ““Since we cannot have what we are unwilling to become, social change is not possible without personal transformation.”” Rev. Deborah L. Johnson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal transformation is prerequisite for broader social change; without changing ourselves we cannot enact societal shifts. **In simple terms:** Changing yourself enables changing society. Key Takeaway Start personal growth to influence change. Themes personal transformation social change growth responsibility empowerment Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - leadership development - policy advocacy Key Concepts self‑actualization collective impact identity shift Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals sustain transformation amid societal pressure? - What structures support personal change? A Different Perspective Personal change may be resisted by entrenched systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Personal transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-transformation/) [Social change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-change/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) ## Related quotes > [Wars and conflicts begin in the mind, then they are expressed in words and then executed through physical action, so personal transformation is intricately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kumar/wars-and-conflicts-begin-in-the-mind-then-they-are-expressed-in-words/) [Satish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kumar/) > [I believe that social change has almost reached critical mass. So many people have undergone personal transformation that their effect on society is having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/i-believe-that-social-change-has-almost-reached-critical-mass-so-many/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [Meditation is an essential travel partner on your journey of personal transformation. Meditation connects you with your soul, and this connection gives you access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/meditation-is-an-essential-travel-partner-on-your-journey-of-personal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/personal-transformation-can-and-does-have-global-effects-as-we-go-so/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [It almost seems like God is transforming into just a strictly spiritual advisor, a personal-transformation type of figure more than an explainer of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/it-almost-seems-like-god-is-transforming-into-just-a-strictly/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [“A country whose citizens do not read is already late because "reading" is just the first step to wisdom acquisition. Application of the learnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-country-whose-citizens-do-not-read-is-already-late-because-reading/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Projects of personal transformation rarely succeed by accident, drift, or imposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/projects-of-personal-transformation-rarely-succeed-by-accident-drift/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Manipulating or controlling others through the use of one's illness or suffering,for example,was-and remains-extremely effective for people who find they cannot be direct in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/manipulating-or-controlling-others-through-the-use-of-one-s-illness/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Second, the reason to embrace and celebrate these novels as the countercultural event that they are is due largely to the subliminal messages delivered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-granger/second-the-reason-to-embrace-and-celebrate-these-novels-as-the/) John Granger > [Without deep personal transformation, collective transformation is not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-corrigan/without-deep-personal-transformation-collective-transformation-is-not/) [Chris Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-corrigan/) > [“Whenever I am in a difficult situation where there seems to be no way out, I think about all the times I have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/whenever-i-am-in-a-difficult-situation-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way/) [Idowu Koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/) > [If we believe in the rebirth of our civilization... then clearly this renaissance must begin in the chambers of our own hearts... We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-feuerstein/if-we-believe-in-the-rebirth-of-our-civilization-then-clearly-this/) [Georg Feuerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-feuerstein/) > [Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-lewis-joseph-mandela/education-is-the-most-powerful-weapon-which-can-be-used-to-change-the/) Gian Lewis Joseph Mandela > [One person can change the world. It happened, is happening and will happen in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-kellam/one-person-can-change-the-world-it-happened-is-happening-and-will/) [Hilary Kellam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-kellam/) > [“To really change the world, we have to help people change the way they see things. Global betterment is a mental process, not one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/to-really-change-the-world-we-have-to-help-people-change-the-way-they/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) ## More by Rev. Deborah L. Johnson > [“what we see in the outer world is a pure reflection of the inner. We want to have love and peace, but the question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-deborah-l-johnson/what-we-see-in-the-outer-world-is-a-pure-reflection-of-the-inner-we/) Rev. Deborah L. Johnson Explore all 2 Rev. Deborah L. Johnson quotes ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Since we cannot have what we are unwilling to become, social change is not possible without personal transformation.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rev. Deborah L. Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-deborah-l-johnson/since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilling-to-become-social-change-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-deborah-l-johnson/since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilling-to-become-social-change-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/rev-deborah-l-johnson-89251_change_since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilli_1929538.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since we cannot have what we are unwilling to become, social change is not possible without personal…” — Rev. Deborah L. Johnson", "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": "Rev. Deborah L. Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-deborah-l-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Since we cannot have what we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-deborah-l-johnson/since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilling-to-become-social-change-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-deborah-l-johnson/since-we-cannot-have-what-we-are-unwilling-to-become-social-change-is/#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 } } ] } ```