--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sooner I'd try to change history than…" description: "\"Sooner I'd try to change history than turn political, than try convincing others to write letters or to vote or to march or to do something they didn't..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png" --- # Sooner I'd try to change history than turn political, than… ![“Sooner I'd try to change history than turn political, than try convincing others to write letters or to vote or to march or to do something they didn't already feel like doing.” quote by Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png) > “Sooner I'd try to change history than turn political, than try convincing others to write letters or to vote or to march or to do something they didn't already feel like doing.” [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing societal systems requires collective action; individual effort alone often feels insufficient. **In simple terms:** Changing history needs collective action. Key Takeaway Mobilize community change. Themes activism collective action history Mood hopeful urgent Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - voting campaigns - grassroots organizing - public advocacy Key Concepts political science social movements Questions to Reflect On - How can one spark collective change? - What small actions build momentum? A Different Perspective Individual agency can still matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I feel sometimes constrained by the expectation that the work should be solely political. I try to create a type of work that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-feel-sometimes-constrained-by-the-expectation-that-the-work-should/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [This is the most elaborate and luxurious method of convincing others that you can cook. Take everybody out on your yacht until they're green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/this-is-the-most-elaborate-and-luxurious-method-of-convincing-others/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [President Lincoln was trying to convince some people, he used some arguments, convincing other people, he used other arguments. That was a great -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/president-lincoln-was-trying-to-convince-some-people-he-used-some/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If the only thing that you are good at is convincing others that you are good, then being in biz with you is bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/if-the-only-thing-that-you-are-good-at-is-convincing-others-that-you/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [People who are really happy do not concern themselves with convincing others of the fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/people-who-are-really-happy-do-not-concern-themselves-with-convincing/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Everybody tries to take a tragedy and turn it to their own political purposes, and it's both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-van-gundy/everybody-tries-to-take-a-tragedy-and-turn-it-to-their-own-political/) [Stan Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-van-gundy/) > [I hated cracking the whip, and these juries turn into political things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-hated-cracking-the-whip-and-these-juries-turn-into-political-things/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [Until relatively recently, mass political movements were still about basic rights of food, shelter, education and self sufficiency. The reasons fewer people vote these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-diamond/until-relatively-recently-mass-political-movements-were-still-about/) [John Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-diamond/) > [It is possible to work across the aisle in Washington, but it's hard. And I think it's been made worse by the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-is-possible-to-work-across-the-aisle-in-washington-but-it-s-hard/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Let the massacres remind us to turn down our political volume and venom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-adams/let-the-massacres-remind-us-to-turn-down-our-political-volume-and/) [Phillip Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-adams/) > [Can you let your son's body become the same temperature as your son's head before you turn this into a political campaign against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/can-you-let-your-son-s-body-become-the-same-temperature-as-your-son-s/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [I would love to just write and not have everything I say or do turn into a political battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-would-love-to-just-write-and-not-have-everything-i-say-or-do-turn/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [“We're born to change history”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabiso-monkoe/we-re-born-to-change-history/) [Thabiso Monkoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabiso-monkoe/) > [I can't change history but only learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-can-t-change-history-but-only-learn-from-it/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [We are about to change history, said Saphira. We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is. Ah, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-are-about-to-change-history-said-saphira-we-re-throwing-ourselves/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## More by Richard Bach > [“Heaven is not a place, and it's not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/heaven-is-not-a-place-and-it-s-not-a-time-heaven-is-being-perfect/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [You'd chosen to be an upright biped on the surface of a small planet of a minor sun on the edge of a minor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/you-d-chosen-to-be-an-upright-biped-on-the-surface-of-a-small-planet/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Your harshest truths are dreams, and your gentlest dreams are true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/your-harshest-truths-are-dreams-and-your-gentlest-dreams-are-true/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“Happiness is a choice. It is not always an easy one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/happiness-is-a-choice-it-is-not-always-an-easy-one/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The world is a dream, you say, and it’s lovely, sometimes. Sunset. Clouds. Sky.” “No. The image is a dream. The beauty is real.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-world-is-a-dream-you-say-and-it-s-lovely-sometimes-sunset-clouds/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-best-way-to-pay-for-a-lovely-moment-is-to-enjoy-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/i-am-tired-of-clinging-though-i-cannot-see-it-with-my-eyes-i-trust/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The space for what you want is already filled with what you settled for instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-space-for-what-you-want-is-already-filled-with-what-you-settled/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Part of us is always the observer, and no matter what, it observes. It watches us. It does not care if we are happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/part-of-us-is-always-the-observer-and-no-matter-what-it-observes-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Kindle Singles is publishing on skates. It prints like lightning; our book meets readers in hours. I've spent so many years waiting for publishers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/kindle-singles-is-publishing-on-skates-it-prints-like-lightning-our/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Explore all 539 Richard Bach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## 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": "Sooner I'd try to change history than turn political, than try convincing others to write letters or to vote or to march or to do something they didn't already feel like doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Bach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-turn-political-than-try/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-turn-political-than-try/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/richard-bach-424_change_sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-tu_1969946.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sooner I'd try to change history than turn political, than try convincing others to write letters or to vote…” — Richard Bach", "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": "Richard Bach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sooner I'd try to change history...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-turn-political-than-try/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/sooner-i-d-try-to-change-history-than-turn-political-than-try/#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 } } ] } ```