--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way to change the world is to…" description: "\"The only way to change the world is to change yourself.\" — Sarah Susanka" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg" --- # The only way to change the world is to change yourself. ![“The only way to change the world is to change yourself.” quote by Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg) > “The only way to change the world is to change yourself.” [Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing oneself is the most effective way to influence broader societal change. **In simple terms:** Self‑change drives world change. Key Takeaway Start with personal transformation. Themes self‑improvement social change leadership Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - community building - environmental activism - organizational reform - personal habits Key Concepts Personal responsibility cultural shift Questions to Reflect On - What personal habit could you change today? - How does self‑growth affect your community? A Different Perspective External factors also play a crucial role in societal change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Actually, it does start with you - if you want to change the world, change yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/actually-it-does-start-with-you-if-you-want-to-change-the-world/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [Changing how we see images is clearly one way to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/changing-how-we-see-images-is-clearly-one-way-to-change-the-world/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The quickest way to change the world is to be of service to others. Show that your love can make a difference in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannion-brinkley/the-quickest-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-be-of-service-to-others/) [Dannion Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannion-brinkley/) > [“There is only one way to change the world; change yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/there-is-only-one-way-to-change-the-world-change-yourself/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [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/) > [Even if you Can't Change the World, you Can Change Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-howell/even-if-you-can-t-change-the-world-you-can-change-individuals/) [Dan Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-howell/) > [We can only change the world if we have a heart for the world and deliver the message for the world. We can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell/we-can-only-change-the-world-if-we-have-a-heart-for-the-world-and/) [Jerry Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell/) > [Don't change the world, change worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/don-t-change-the-world-change-worlds/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [Newtonian physics is over. You don't act on the world to change the world. You realize the world is a projection of your inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/newtonian-physics-is-over-you-don-t-act-on-the-world-to-change-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“You may not be able to change the world, but when you change your world, you have taken a major step in changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-not-be-able-to-change-the-world-but-when-you-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not out to change the world. I'm out to change mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-white/i-m-not-out-to-change-the-world-i-m-out-to-change-mine/) Rodney White > [You won't be able to change the world, yourself, anything, if you don't change yourself inwardly, deeply, enduringly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/you-won-t-be-able-to-change-the-world-yourself-anything-if-you-don-t/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [To change the world, you must first change yourself. And baby, that's hard enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alonzo-king/to-change-the-world-you-must-first-change-yourself-and-baby-that-s/) [Alonzo King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alonzo-king/) > [We think it is complicated to change the world. Change comes little by little. Nothing worthwhile can happen in one generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/we-think-it-is-complicated-to-change-the-world-change-comes-little-by/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [If you want to change the world, change it through the market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilding/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-change-it-through-the-market/) [Paul Gilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilding/) ## More by Sarah Susanka > [“The trick is realize that the shit that falls on you is fertilizer. -Ron Mangravite”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/the-trick-is-realize-that-the-shit-that-falls-on-you-is-fertilizer/) [Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) > [With all the challenges in the housing market, it's clear we need a new vision for the way we design our homes, our communities-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/with-all-the-challenges-in-the-housing-market-it-s-clear-we-need-a/) [Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) > [A Not So Big House feels more spacious than many of its oversized neighbors because it is space with substance, all of it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/a-not-so-big-house-feels-more-spacious-than-many-of-its-oversized/) [Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) > [James Hardie(R) siding is a sustainable and marvelous substitute for wood. It's available pre-colored and the finish truly looks like high-grade wood siding. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/james-hardie-r-siding-is-a-sustainable-and-marvelous-substitute-for/) [Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) > [Once you make the unequivocal internal commitment to do something - when you absolutely know this is the time and the place to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/once-you-make-the-unequivocal-internal-commitment-to-do-something/) [Sarah Susanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) [Explore all 6 Sarah Susanka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/) ## 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": "The only way to change the world is to change yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Susanka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/sarah-susanka-54907_change_the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-c_3138993.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way to change the world is to change yourself.” — Sarah Susanka", "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": "Sarah Susanka", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-susanka/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way to change the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-susanka/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```