--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The status quo is more tenacious than…" description: "\"The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather than change. So it really has to be committed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png" --- # The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever… ![“The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather than change. So it really has to be committed to eliminating a bad habit to even start down that path.” quote by Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png) > “The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather than change. So it really has to be committed to eliminating a bad habit to even start down that path.” [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People cling to familiar habits because continuity feels safe; breaking them requires deliberate commitment and effort. **In simple terms:** Changing habits is hard because we prefer stability. Key Takeaway Commit to intentional change to overcome ingrained habits. Themes habit formation psychology change Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help business When to use this quote - personal development - organizational change - health initiatives - education reform - policy making Key Concepts cognitive bias behavioral economics self‑control Questions to Reflect On - What habit would you like to break? - How can you sustain motivation during the transition? A Different Perspective Deep‑seated habits may resist change despite rational intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) [Bad habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habits/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) ## Related quotes > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [I think we sometimes think, 'it is just preseason. These games are for the fans mostly.' It's for ourselves to get in shape and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-think-we-sometimes-think-it-is-just-preseason-these-games-are-for/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [Correcting bad habits cannot be done by forbidding or punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baden-powell/correcting-bad-habits-cannot-be-done-by-forbidding-or-punishment/) [Robert Baden-Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baden-powell/) > [You'd think that in a fight, NOT MOVING would be a bad habit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-d-think-that-in-a-fight-not-moving-would-be-a-bad-habit/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Movies are one of the bad habits that have corrupted our century. They have slipped into the American mind more misinformation in one evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/movies-are-one-of-the-bad-habits-that-have-corrupted-our-century-they/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/my-bad-habits-aren-t-my-title-my-strengths-and-my-talent-are-my-title/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits - good and bad. So the key to the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/the-game-is-played-out-of-instinct-but-everyone-on-the-ice-has-habits/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [The first duty of a Christian, of a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. To deny oneself means to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-of-alaska/the-first-duty-of-a-christian-of-a-disciple-and-follower-of-jesus/) Innocent of Alaska > [I don't want to be overdramatic about it, but I'm starting to see a lot of my bad habits get the best of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-don-t-want-to-be-overdramatic-about-it-but-i-m-starting-to-see-a/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I have the same friends and the same bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/i-have-the-same-friends-and-the-same-bad-habits/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [Sometimes it doesn't take much to slip back into bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/sometimes-it-doesn-t-take-much-to-slip-back-into-bad-habits/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [All day long the thoughts that occupy your mind, your Secret Place, as Jesus calls it, are moulding your destiny for good or evil;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/all-day-long-the-thoughts-that-occupy-your-mind-your-secret-place-as/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) ## More by Roger Martin > [The virtue of small-to-midsize companies is that they tend to be more flexible and it is easier to experiment with new ways of working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-virtue-of-small-to-midsize-companies-is-that-they-tend-to-be-more/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce something that does not now exist. And so it is with integrative thinking - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-fundamental-purpose-of-design-thinking-is-to-produce-something/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great integrative moves that I studied came as a result of starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that-none-of-the-great/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Business people don't need to understand designers better. They need to be designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/business-people-don-t-need-to-understand-designers-better-they-need/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [In order to have a hope of creating better answers, we need to deeply understand the logic of the opposing answers. That means thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/in-order-to-have-a-hope-of-creating-better-answers-we-need-to-deeply/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Design isn't just about making things beautiful; it's also about making things work beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/design-isn-t-just-about-making-things-beautiful-it-s-also-about/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [I love that Toronto is demonstrating that a big, highly diverse, multicultural city can actually work and work well, if its residents have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/i-love-that-toronto-is-demonstrating-that-a-big-highly-diverse/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Typically to get toward a productive outcome in negotiation you have to make the initial move of genuinely exploring someone's model. If you don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/typically-to-get-toward-a-productive-outcome-in-negotiation-you-have/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [When it comes to innovation, business has much to learn from design. The philosophy in design shops is, 'try it, prototype it, and improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/when-it-comes-to-innovation-business-has-much-to-learn-from-design/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The two most fundamental strategic choices are deciding where to play and how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-two-most-fundamental-strategic-choices-are-deciding-where-to-play/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [You need to be uncomfortable and apprehensive: True strategy is about placing bets and making hard choices. The objective is not to eliminate risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/you-need-to-be-uncomfortable-and-apprehensive-true-strategy-is-about/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The ability to face constructively the tension of opposing ideas and instead of choosing one at the expense of the other, generate a creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-ability-to-face-constructively-the-tension-of-opposing-ideas-and/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) [Explore all 13 Roger Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) ## More Bad habit quotes > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I’m afraid I don’t suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. A very bad habit, but one I find hard to break. Nevertheless, you will find, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-suffer-petty-bureaucrats-gladly-a-very-bad-habit/) Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child > [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [Im not actually this tall, Ive got this bad habit of sitting on my wallet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan/im-not-actually-this-tall-ive-got-this-bad-habit-of-sitting-on-my/) [Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan/) > [Sometimes it doesn't take much to slip back into bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/sometimes-it-doesn-t-take-much-to-slip-back-into-bad-habits/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [I have the same friends and the same bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/i-have-the-same-friends-and-the-same-bad-habits/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [I don't want to be overdramatic about it, but I'm starting to see a lot of my bad habits get the best of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-don-t-want-to-be-overdramatic-about-it-but-i-m-starting-to-see-a/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [The first duty of a Christian, of a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. To deny oneself means to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-of-alaska/the-first-duty-of-a-christian-of-a-disciple-and-follower-of-jesus/) Innocent of Alaska > [“So, did you see that community center I was talking about?” “What? Where?” “We walked right past it, just before that grocery store. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/so-did-you-see-that-community-center-i-was-talking-about-what-where/) [Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/) > [The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits - good and bad. So the key to the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/the-game-is-played-out-of-instinct-but-everyone-on-the-ice-has-habits/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/my-bad-habits-aren-t-my-title-my-strengths-and-my-talent-are-my-title/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [Movies are one of the bad habits that have corrupted our century. They have slipped into the American mind more misinformation in one evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/movies-are-one-of-the-bad-habits-that-have-corrupted-our-century-they/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) [Browse all 567 Bad habit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather than change. So it really has to be committed to eliminating a bad habit to even start down that path.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roger Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-anyone-would-ever-imagine-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad habit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-anyone-would-ever-imagine-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/roger-martin-35362_bad-habit_the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-an_1344543.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather…” — Roger Martin", "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": "Roger Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The status quo is more tenacious...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-anyone-would-ever-imagine-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-anyone-would-ever-imagine-the/#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 } } ] } ```