--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nevertheless, the only way we can move…" description: "\"Nevertheless, the only way we can move from where we are now to where we would like to be is to accept where we are now.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png" --- # Nevertheless, the only way we can move from where we are… ![“Nevertheless, the only way we can move from where we are now to where we would like to be is to accept where we are now.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png) > “Nevertheless, the only way we can move from where we are now to where we would like to be is to accept where we are now.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress requires acknowledging current reality before planning future change. **In simple terms:** Accept where you are to move forward. Key Takeaway Recognize your starting point before setting goals. Themes acceptance growth change self‑awareness Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career transition - personal development - relationship improvement - health goals Key Concepts psychology goal setting mindset Questions to Reflect On - What are you resisting to accept? - How does acceptance reshape your plan? A Different Perspective Denial can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-accept-447265/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Nevertheless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nevertheless/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-like-1490312/) ## Related quotes > [My past mistakes are mine some I don't like some have made me who I am and some you may not accept but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/my-past-mistakes-are-mine-some-i-don-t-like-some-have-made-me-who-i/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [I was injured many times, but life is like this, and I have to accept this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/i-was-injured-many-times-but-life-is-like-this-and-i-have-to-accept/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) > [It's hard to get along with people. As much as you try to like them and accept them as individuals, it becomes difficult because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/it-s-hard-to-get-along-with-people-as-much-as-you-try-to-like-them/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“wasn’t built for heavy doses of rejection. I’d known this about myself since high school, freshman year, when I got cut from the baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/wasn-t-built-for-heavy-doses-of-rejection-i-d-known-this-about-myself/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [I dont give a fuck how u think about me I am like this accept me or leave me fuck u …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-thanvi/i-dont-give-a-fuck-how-u-think-about-me-i-am-like-this-accept-me-or/) [Iman Thanvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-thanvi/) > [I can't change what's happened to me in my life, or make what's not occurred take place. But I can't say I like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-laurence/i-can-t-change-what-s-happened-to-me-in-my-life-or-make-what-s-not/) [Margaret Laurence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-laurence/) > [I don't have to accept what you think I should look like and I do not accept what you think I should look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/i-don-t-have-to-accept-what-you-think-i-should-look-like-and-i-do-not/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [I like to accept it all, the negative and the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/i-like-to-accept-it-all-the-negative-and-the-positive/) [Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/) > [Do unto the other feller the way he'd like to do unto you, and do it fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-noyes-westcott/do-unto-the-other-feller-the-way-he-d-like-to-do-unto-you-and-do-it/) [Edward Noyes Westcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-noyes-westcott/) > [“Treat everyone in the same way you would like to be treated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-chevarie/treat-everyone-in-the-same-way-you-would-like-to-be-treated/) [Germaine Chevarie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-chevarie/) > [“Somehow the silence seemed to connect us in a way like words never could.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/somehow-the-silence-seemed-to-connect-us-in-a-way-like-words-never/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [Act the way you'd like to be and soon you'll be the way you act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/act-the-way-you-d-like-to-be-and-soon-you-ll-be-the-way-you-act/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [My career was always full of risks one way or another, and that's the way I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weller/my-career-was-always-full-of-risks-one-way-or-another-and-that-s-the/) [Peter Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weller/) > [This is a stupid song and that's the way I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/this-is-a-stupid-song-and-that-s-the-way-i-like-it/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [The best way to be more like me is to be more like you,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-best-way-to-be-more-like-me-is-to-be-more-like-you/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) [Chan Heng Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chan-heng-chee/) > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) [Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nevertheless, the only way we can move from where we are now to where we would like to be is to accept where we are now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-from-where-we-are-now-to-where/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-from-where-we-are-now-to-where/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/stephen-covey-339_accept_nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-fr_1311739.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nevertheless, the only way we can move from where we are now to where we would like to be is to accept where…” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nevertheless, the only way we can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-from-where-we-are-now-to-where/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/nevertheless-the-only-way-we-can-move-from-where-we-are-now-to-where/#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 } } ] } ```