--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a great paradox - almost everyone…" description: "\"It is a great paradox - almost everyone wants to improve his circumstances but almost no one wants to improve himself.\" — Sterling W Sill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg" --- # It is a great paradox - almost everyone wants to improve… ![“It is a great paradox - almost everyone wants to improve his circumstances but almost no one wants to improve himself.” quote by Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg) > “It is a great paradox - almost everyone wants to improve his circumstances but almost no one wants to improve himself.” [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many desire better external conditions but resist the internal work needed for self‑improvement. **In simple terms:** People want better lives but avoid self‑growth. Key Takeaway Invest in self‑development first. Themes self‑improvement paradox growth Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - health habits - education Key Concepts psychology self‑help motivation Questions to Reflect On - What internal changes could improve your circumstances? - Why is self‑work often avoided? A Different Perspective Self‑improvement can be uncomfortable and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Great Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-paradox-898913/) [Improve Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improve-circumstances-642351/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Paradox Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox-wants-1695276/) [Self discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discipline/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wants Improve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-improve-1695275/) ## Related quotes > [The great paradox of determinism and free will, which has held the attention of the wisest of philosophers and psychologists for generations, can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-great-paradox-of-determinism-and-free-will-which-has-held-the/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [“Sometimes things seem out of our hands. They are, mostly. The great paradox is that this thing is totally out of our hands, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/sometimes-things-seem-out-of-our-hands-they-are-mostly-the-great/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [PSG has got a solid project. Neymar wants to improve and grow with the club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unai-emery/psg-has-got-a-solid-project-neymar-wants-to-improve-and-grow-with-the/) [Unai Emery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unai-emery/) > [I'm not the kind of coach who just goes out and buys players for the sake of it. I'm a coach who wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-m-not-the-kind-of-coach-who-just-goes-out-and-buys-players-for-the/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [Musharraf is a good man and wants to improve relations with India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalu-prasad-yadav/musharraf-is-a-good-man-and-wants-to-improve-relations-with-india/) [Lalu Prasad Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalu-prasad-yadav/) > [I am someone who wants to improve my game day by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/i-am-someone-who-wants-to-improve-my-game-day-by-day/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [I want to be part of a family which wants to improve Indian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-sreesanth/i-want-to-be-part-of-a-family-which-wants-to-improve-indian-democracy/) [S. Sreesanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-sreesanth/) > [It's the most important thing - especially for a young player who wants to improve - to improve his talent and learn, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xherdan-shaqiri/it-s-the-most-important-thing-especially-for-a-young-player-who-wants/) [Xherdan Shaqiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xherdan-shaqiri/) > [The way to feel better about your own situation is to improve someone else’s circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-way-to-feel-better-about-your-own-situation-is-to-improve-someone/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/men-are-anxious-to-improve-their-circumstances-but-are-unwilling-to-3/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“People are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound."—As A Man Thinketh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-johnson/people-are-anxious-to-improve-their-circumstances-but-are-unwilling-2/) [Vic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-johnson/) > [Most people would rather change their circumstances to improve their lives when instead they need to change themselves to improve their circumstances. They put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/most-people-would-rather-change-their-circumstances-to-improve-their/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“People are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves. That is why they remain bound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/people-are-anxious-to-improve-their-circumstances-but-are-unwilling/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [CHANGE doesn't HAPPEN when circumstances IMPROVE. CHANGE HAPPENS when YOU decide to IMPROVE your circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/change-doesn-t-happen-when-circumstances-improve-change-happens-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Coming to appreciate your worth can, in some cases, dramatically improve your circumstances by changing the choices you make and the actions you take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/coming-to-appreciate-your-worth-can-in-some-cases-dramatically/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) ## More by Sterling W Sill > [Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/hang-on-the-walls-of-your-mind-the-memory-of-your-successes-take/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [I heard of somebody once who said he was interested in doing the greatest amount of good for the greatest number, and that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/i-heard-of-somebody-once-who-said-he-was-interested-in-doing-the/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Make sure that your ambitions are really lofty - not just seem to be. Sometimes instead of engaging in those so called "mountaintop employments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/make-sure-that-your-ambitions-are-really-lofty-not-just-seem-to-be/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Planning is the mother of almost every other ability. Make your plan and set a timetable for its accomplishment in writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/planning-is-the-mother-of-almost-every-other-ability-make-your-plan/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Building a successful life is much like building anything else: it should be thoroughly thought about in advance and then carried through to completion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/building-a-successful-life-is-much-like-building-anything-else-it/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [When in our minds we pre-live our marriage, we help to determine the kind of person that we would like to be when that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/when-in-our-minds-we-pre-live-our-marriage-we-help-to-determine-the/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [A story is told that Whistler once painted a tiny picture of a spray of roses. The artistry involved in the picture was magnificent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/a-story-is-told-that-whistler-once-painted-a-tiny-picture-of-a-spray/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [The greatest opportunity of our lives is to wake ourselves up and get going. There is so much to be done and so little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/the-greatest-opportunity-of-our-lives-is-to-wake-ourselves-up-and-get/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Life begins when we begin and each day we ought to be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/life-begins-when-we-begin-and-each-day-we-ought-to-be-born-again/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Wealth is not only what you have but it is also what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/wealth-is-not-only-what-you-have-but-it-is-also-what-you-are/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Everything depends on attitude. We are ambitious or lazy, enthusiastic or dull, loyal or undependable, according to our attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/everything-depends-on-attitude-we-are-ambitious-or-lazy-enthusiastic/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [We insist on near perfection in everyone except ourselves. But if our course is questioned we become offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/we-insist-on-near-perfection-in-everyone-except-ourselves-but-if-our/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Perhaps punctuality is a quality made even more valuable because it is found in so few people. Punctuality is not usually thought of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/perhaps-punctuality-is-a-quality-made-even-more-valuable-because-it/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Punctuality is closely related to faithfulness and dependability. Being tardy can be linked to uninterest, apathy, slothfulness and procrastination...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/punctuality-is-closely-related-to-faithfulness-and-dependability/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [You can't judge a man by watching him live. . . . I personally watched Babe Ruth at bat three times, and he struck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/you-can-t-judge-a-man-by-watching-him-live-i-personally-watched-babe/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) [Explore all 69 Sterling W Sill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a great paradox - almost everyone wants to improve his circumstances but almost no one wants to improve himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sterling W Sill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wants-to-improve-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wants-to-improve-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/sterling-w-sill-9927_circumstances_it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wa_1761325.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a great paradox - almost everyone wants to improve his circumstances but almost no one wants to…” — Sterling W Sill", "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": "Sterling W Sill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a great paradox -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wants-to-improve-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/it-is-a-great-paradox-almost-everyone-wants-to-improve-his/#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 } } ] } ```