--- 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.”\" — Susan Rice" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/susan-rice-4480_better_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_1985208.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.” quote by Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/susan-rice-4480_better_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_1985208.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/susan-rice-4480_better_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_1985208.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/susan-rice-4480_better_progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency_1985208.png) > ““Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better.”” [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 improvement; progress results from intentional actions. **In simple terms:** People improve things by acting. Key Takeaway Act to shape outcomes. Themes agency progress humanism Mood determined optimistic Type inspirational political When to use this quote - policy making - community projects - personal development - innovation Key Concepts Intentionality cause and effect Questions to Reflect On - How can you increase agency in your work? - What barriers limit collective action? A Different Perspective Progress can stall without resources or cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Human Agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-agency-1613534/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-product-2838164/) [Things Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-better-235422/) [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. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/progress-is-the-product-of-human-agency-things-get-better-because-we-2/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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. 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