--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Progress is the product of human agency…" description: "\"Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when we fail to ta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/susan-rice-4480_agency_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_2347296.png" --- # Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better… ![“Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when we fail to take risks or seize opportunities.” quote by Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/susan-rice-4480_agency_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_2347296.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/susan-rice-4480_agency_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_2347296.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/susan-rice-4480_agency_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_2347296.png) > “Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when we fail to take risks or seize opportunities.” [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human effort drives progress; complacency and risk‑aversion cause setbacks. **In simple terms:** People improve things; being safe hurts. Key Takeaway Take risks and stay proactive. Themes progress human agency risk Mood motivational cautionary Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business strategy - public policy - personal growth - entrepreneurship Key Concepts innovation agency opportunity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance risk and safety? - What habits prevent complacency? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to failure if not managed wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agency/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Get better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-better/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Human Agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-agency-1613534/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Products](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/products/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-product-2838164/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Seize the opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seize-the-opportunity/) [Things Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-better/) [Things get better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-get-better/) ## Related quotes > [“Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency-things-get-better-because-we/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Most things get better by themselves. Most things, in fact, are better by morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/most-things-get-better-by-themselves-most-things-in-fact-are-better/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Some things get better with age. And then there's Madonna.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/some-things-get-better-with-age-and-then-there-s-madonna/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [You've got to feel better and then things get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/you-ve-got-to-feel-better-and-then-things-get-better/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Some things get better with age. Like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/some-things-get-better-with-age-like-me/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [There is no progress without product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/there-is-no-progress-without-product/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Progress is mostly the product of rogues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/progress-is-mostly-the-product-of-rogues/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Things get better through whatever, if you fall dust it off don't litter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhaj-porras/things-get-better-through-whatever-if-you-fall-dust-it-off-don-t/) [Mhaj Porras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhaj-porras/) > [The moment you stop caring is the moment when things get better dont waste your time trying to please others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-moment-you-stop-caring-is-the-moment-when-things-get-better-dont/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My heart goes out to all those on the east coast. I hope things get better soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-heart-goes-out-to-all-those-on-the-east-coast-i-hope-things-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some things get better with age, but after a certain point, the mind isn't among them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/some-things-get-better-with-age-but-after-a-certain-point-the-mind/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [I'm sorry for whatever you're going through and I hope things get better. All my love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-sorry-for-whatever-you-re-going-through-and-i-hope-things-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When things get better, there's a swing to the pendulum where things get worse for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/when-things-get-better-there-s-a-swing-to-the-pendulum-where-things/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [Every day things get better because politicians are addressing the fiscal challenges more aggressively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-whitney/every-day-things-get-better-because-politicians-are-addressing-the/) [Meredith Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-whitney/) > [Sometimes it may not feel/seem like it, but things get better!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-it-may-not-feel-seem-like-it-but-things-get-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Susan Rice > [Since I've had a career, my hair has been more or less professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/since-i-ve-had-a-career-my-hair-has-been-more-or-less-professional/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [What I learned is that policymakers have to force consideration of actions that may not have occurred to them at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/what-i-learned-is-that-policymakers-have-to-force-consideration-of/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I've taken my knocks here and there, but I believe my intentions are good. Doesn't mean everything I do is perfectly executed or I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-ve-taken-my-knocks-here-and-there-but-i-believe-my-intentions-are/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I'm not watching any TV shows, frankly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-m-not-watching-any-tv-shows-frankly/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [The United States really only accounts for about 3 percent of the economic engagement with Russia. Europe is 40 percent, and so Europe's contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/the-united-states-really-only-accounts-for-about-3-percent-of-the/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I am very aware of being black and female because that's what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-am-very-aware-of-being-black-and-female-because-that-s-what-i-am/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Well, Nigeria has played a constructive role in peacekeeping in various parts of West Africa. But unless and until Nigeria itself is democratic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/well-nigeria-has-played-a-constructive-role-in-peacekeeping-in/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I'm apologetic when I feel like I've made a mistake. And when I have done a disservice to myself or someone else. 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It had nothing to do with the United States government and it's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/there-was-a-hateful-video-that-was-disseminated-on-the-internet-it/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Well, I think by any expectation South Africa has come a tremendously long way. We've seen a society that many people thought couldn't withstand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/well-i-think-by-any-expectation-south-africa-has-come-a-tremendously/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Can I be blunt? Yes. Can I be diplomatic? Yes. Can I concoct a mixture of vinegar and honey when the circumstances warrant? Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/can-i-be-blunt-yes-can-i-be-diplomatic-yes-can-i-concoct-a-mixture-of/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [When my son was a mere three months old, I started working at the State Department. I was not only the youngest Assistant Secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/when-my-son-was-a-mere-three-months-old-i-started-working-at-the/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I was conscious of the fact that it could be to my disadvantage to marry a white guy - that some folks would hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-was-conscious-of-the-fact-that-it-could-be-to-my-disadvantage-to/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) [Explore all 110 Susan Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) ## More Agency quotes > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. 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Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I was taking all prints and I brought them to the Magnum meetings, trying the old Josef Koudelka trick: Give them to photographers, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-van-agtmael/i-was-taking-all-prints-and-i-brought-them-to-the-magnum-meetings/) [Peter van Agtmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-van-agtmael/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [In most agencies, account executives outnumber the copywriters two to one. If you were a dairy farmer, would you employ twice as many milkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/in-most-agencies-account-executives-outnumber-the-copywriters-two-to/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. 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