--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Change is a threat when done to me, but…" description: "\"Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.\" — Rosabeth Moss Kanter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png" --- # Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity… ![“Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.” quote by Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png) > “Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.” [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change feels threatening when imposed, but becomes empowering when we initiate it. **In simple terms:** Change is scary if forced; it’s a chance if we lead it. Key Takeaway Take charge of change. Themes change empowerment agency Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career transitions - personal growth - business restructuring - community projects Key Concepts Leadership psychology organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift from being a passive recipient to an active driver of change? - What resources help you feel empowered? A Different Perspective If we lack resources, change may still feel threatening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-change/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [Change is no threat to culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/change-is-no-threat-to-culture/) [Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/) > [Asteroids are often seen as a threat, but they are also an opportunity. The use of space resources holds a large potential for future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-schneider/asteroids-are-often-seen-as-a-threat-but-they-are-also-an-opportunity/) [Etienne Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-schneider/) > [Climate change is a threat to the conditions in which our economy can function at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/climate-change-is-a-threat-to-the-conditions-in-which-our-economy-can/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [People never change because they are under threat or under duress. Never. They change because they see something that makes their life seem valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/people-never-change-because-they-are-under-threat-or-under-duress/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/people-who-consider-themselves-victims-of-their-circumstances-will/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [My mental boundaries expanded when I viewed the Earth against a black and uninviting vacuum, yet my country's rich traditions had conditioned me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-sharma/my-mental-boundaries-expanded-when-i-viewed-the-earth-against-a-black/) [Rakesh Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-sharma/) > [Adversity is just change that we haven't adapted ourselves to yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mullins/adversity-is-just-change-that-we-haven-t-adapted-ourselves-to-yet/) [Aimee Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mullins/) > [I'm an optimist. I've always believed the future is going to be better than the past. And I also believe I have a role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/i-m-an-optimist-i-ve-always-believed-the-future-is-going-to-be-better/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [Believe in yourself. Trust the process. Change forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/believe-in-yourself-trust-the-process-change-forever/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [Your poverty today is because of who you are. Want wealth? Let go of your anchors and inhibitions and change yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/your-poverty-today-is-because-of-who-you-are-want-wealth-let-go-of/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [If the only thing people learned was not to be afraid of their experience, that alone would change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-banks/if-the-only-thing-people-learned-was-not-to-be-afraid-of-their/) [Sydney Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-banks/) > [Change is not a threat to your life, but an invitation to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/change-is-not-a-threat-to-your-life-but-an-invitation-to-live/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Scratch any father, you find / Someone chock-full of qualms and romantic terrors, / Believing change is a threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/scratch-any-father-you-find-someone-chock-full-of-qualms-and-romantic/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [The pace of change and the threat of disruption creates tremendous opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-case/the-pace-of-change-and-the-threat-of-disruption-creates-tremendous/) [Steve Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-case/) > [“Learn to adapt. Things change, circumstances change. Adjust yourself and your efforts to what it is presented to you so you can respond accordingly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-costa/learn-to-adapt-things-change-circumstances-change-adjust-yourself-and/) [Rodolfo Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-costa/) ## More by Rosabeth Moss Kanter > [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I wonder whether there has been too much emphasis on teaching women to conform, to fit into the system. Certainly that suits conservative organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-wonder-whether-there-has-been-too-much-emphasis-on-teaching-women/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [After years of telling corporate citizens to 'trust the system,' many companies must relearn instead to trust their people - and encourage their people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/after-years-of-telling-corporate-citizens-to-trust-the-system-many/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/creativity-is-a-lot-like-looking-at-the-world-through-a-kaleidoscope/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [The difference between "winners" and "losers" is not whether they face obstacles and setbacks - we all do, and it is inevitable that plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/the-difference-between-winners-and-losers-is-not-whether-they-face/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Friendly people are caring people, eager to provide encouragement and support when needed most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/friendly-people-are-caring-people-eager-to-provide-encouragement-and/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power is the ability to get things done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-is-the-ability-to-get-things-done/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I've been looking at companies that are on a positive path vs. a negative path and I've come to use the language of sports,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-ve-been-looking-at-companies-that-are-on-a-positive-path-vs-a/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power stems from 'rainmaking,' as law firms put it: the ability to bring resources into the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-stems-from-rainmaking-as-law-firms-put-it-the-ability-to-bring/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Leaders must pick causes they won't abandon easily, remain committed despite setbacks, and communicate their big ideas over and over again in every encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/leaders-must-pick-causes-they-won-t-abandon-easily-remain-committed/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary every change project, doubt is cast on the original vision because problems are mounting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-middle-in-neary-every-change/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Confidence is not lodged in people's brains, it comes from the support system that surrounds them. Let's not confuse confidence overall with just self-confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/confidence-is-not-lodged-in-people-s-brains-it-comes-from-the-support/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [During the Boom Years, it was so easy to lose sight of basic values. For example, there was lots of nonsense said and written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/during-the-boom-years-it-was-so-easy-to-lose-sight-of-basic-values/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Winning becomes easier over time as the cornerstones of confidence become habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/winning-becomes-easier-over-time-as-the-cornerstones-of-confidence/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) [Explore all 111 Rosabeth Moss Kanter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## 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": "Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rosabeth Moss Kanter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-an-opportunity-when-done-by-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-an-opportunity-when-done-by-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_change_change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-a_1331261.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter", "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": "Rosabeth Moss Kanter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Change is a threat when done...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-an-opportunity-when-done-by-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/change-is-a-threat-when-done-to-me-but-an-opportunity-when-done-by-me/#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 } } ] } ```