--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's much you can't change, but…" description: "\"There's much you can't change, but there's something important you can change: you.\" — Rick Warren" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png" --- # There's much you can't change, but there's something… ![“There's much you can't change, but there's something important you can change: you.” quote by Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png) > “There's much you can't change, but there's something important you can change: you.” [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You cannot change everything, but you can change yourself, which is vital. **In simple terms:** Self‑change is essential. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes self‑help spirituality empowerment Mood encouraging hopeful Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - coaching - spiritual retreats - self‑development Key Concepts personal responsibility inner transformation Questions to Reflect On - What personal changes matter most? - How does self‑change impact others? A Different Perspective External factors still matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [So I think it's - what was important to me is that I found that I can't change the fact that people already have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/so-i-think-it-s-what-was-important-to-me-is-that-i-found-that-i-can-t/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [In a world without Chevron, very little would change except perhaps the most important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gorsuch/in-a-world-without-chevron-very-little-would-change-except-perhaps/) Neil Gorsuch > [I think it's important that there is a change, especially in fashion. I'm pleased to be part of a 'new breed' of models who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-aoki/i-think-it-s-important-that-there-is-a-change-especially-in-fashion-i/) [Devon Aoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-aoki/) > [I can remember when I first went into the Himalayan area way back in 1951. Money, for instance, was not important at all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-can-remember-when-i-first-went-into-the-himalayan-area-way-back-in/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [A home is very, very important to me. But I do change things around a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-vanderbilt/a-home-is-very-very-important-to-me-but-i-do-change-things-around-a/) [Gloria Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-vanderbilt/) > [As important as it is to change the light bulbs, its more important to change the laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-important-as-it-is-to-change-the-light-bulbs-its-more-important-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Every important change in our society, for the good, at least, has taken place because of popular pressure-pressure from below, from the great mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/every-important-change-in-our-society-for-the-good-at-least-has-taken/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I think it's important to change and not be associated with your character too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-leslie/i-think-it-s-important-to-change-and-not-be-associated-with-your/) [Rose Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-leslie/) > [Our circumstances will continually change. It is out of our control. It is more important to change our attitude, which we have control of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/our-circumstances-will-continually-change-it-is-out-of-our-control-it/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Sometimes it's more important to change politicians than light bulbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/sometimes-it-s-more-important-to-change-politicians-than-light-bulbs/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [I think it's important to change your hair up once in a while - not to always remain the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/i-think-it-s-important-to-change-your-hair-up-once-in-a-while-not-to/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) > [People ended up not thinking much of me. They saw me as a bit of a troublemaker. It's important to change people's impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/people-ended-up-not-thinking-much-of-me-they-saw-me-as-a-bit-of-a/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [“what you’re saying is, to be with you, I have to prove you’re important enough to me to change everything about me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/what-you-re-saying-is-to-be-with-you-i-have-to-prove-you-re-important/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [My parents' divorce made an important change in my life. It affected me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/my-parents-divorce-made-an-important-change-in-my-life-it-affected-me/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [It was important to me to change the narrative. It's important because it has an impact on everything you do. It doesn't matter who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-abudu/it-was-important-to-me-to-change-the-narrative-it-s-important-because/) [Mo Abudu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-abudu/) ## More by Rick Warren > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Change always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/change-always-starts-in-your-mind-the-way-you-think-determines-the/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If it grows on a plant, it's healthy. If it's made in a plant, don't eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-it-grows-on-a-plant-it-s-healthy-if-it-s-made-in-a-plant-don-t-eat/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Those that innovate the future understand history the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/those-that-innovate-the-future-understand-history-the-best/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-look-at-the-world-you-ll-be-distressed-if-you-look-within-you/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We become whatever we are committed to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-become-whatever-we-are-committed-to/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“but it does mean God is able to redeem any and all situations and use them for his own good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/but-it-does-mean-god-is-able-to-redeem-any-and-all-situations-and-use/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Well actually I don't think it's a bunch of bad things that send us to hell. I think it is rejection of God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/well-actually-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-bunch-of-bad-things-that-send-us/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) [Explore all 847 Rick Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More Can't change quotes > [Donʹt worry now about what you canʹt change. Rest when you can so youʹll be ready for tomorrowʹs battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/don-t-worry-now-about-what-you-can-t-change-rest-when-you-can-so-you/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [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 > [You can't change a man, no-ways. By the time his mummy turns him loose and he takes up with some innocent woman and marries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/you-can-t-change-a-man-no-ways-by-the-time-his-mummy-turns-him-loose/) [Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/) > [I don't worry about the things I can't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-don-t-worry-about-the-things-i-can-t-change/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [Congress decides who becomes a citizen and how. To automatically say the 14th Amendment grants birthright citizenship, no, we can't change that. Amending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/congress-decides-who-becomes-a-citizen-and-how-to-automatically-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Though I can't change what happened, I can choose how to react. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/though-i-can-t-change-what-happened-i-can-choose-how-to-react-and-i/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When a poem is really finished, you can't change anything. You can't move words around. You can't say, 'In other words, you mean.' No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/when-a-poem-is-really-finished-you-can-t-change-anything-you-can-t/) [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [The only thing one can usually change in one's situation is oneself. And yet one can't change that either-only ask Our Lord to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-only-thing-one-can-usually-change-in-one-s-situation-is-oneself/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-can-t-change-my-gender-and-i-refuse-to-stop-making-movies/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/but-i-think-it-s-more-that-when-you-re-young-you-re-invincible-you-re/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [You can't change t he wor ld f rom t he rear view mir ror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/you-can-t-change-t-he-wor-ld-f-rom-t-he-rear-view-mir-ror/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [You can't change your attitude because you're the champion. I've always kept my feet on the ground and never wanted to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renan-barao/you-can-t-change-your-attitude-because-you-re-the-champion-i-ve/) Renan Barao > [By the time you're 30, you know who you are inside. You learn to laugh at things you can't change; you learn to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/by-the-time-you-re-30-you-know-who-you-are-inside-you-learn-to-laugh/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Those that can't change even their toothbrush and pyjamas are trying to change the world! Let us be serious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-that-can-t-change-even-their-toothbrush-and-pyjamas-are-trying/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The message I'm sending to myself - I can't change the world until I change myself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/the-message-i-m-sending-to-myself-i-can-t-change-the-world-until-i/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) [Browse all 311 Can't change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's much you can't change, but there's something important you can change: you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Warren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there-s-something-important-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can't change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there-s-something-important-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/rick-warren-230_can-t-change_there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there_2864096.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's much you can't change, but there's something important you can change: you.” — Rick Warren", "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": "Rick Warren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's much you can't change, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there-s-something-important-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-much-you-can-t-change-but-there-s-something-important-you-can/#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 } } ] } ```