--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as you live, you will be subject…" description: "\"“As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not - now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/thomas-a-kempis-721_change_as-long-as-you-live-you-will-be-subject_332909.jpg" --- # As long as you live, you will be subject to change… ![“As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not - now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now undevout; now vigorous, now slothful; now gloomy, now merry. But a wise man who is well taught in spiritual labor stands unshaken in all such…” quote by Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/thomas-a-kempis-721_change_as-long-as-you-live-you-will-be-subject_332909.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/thomas-a-kempis-721_change_as-long-as-you-live-you-will-be-subject_332909.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/thomas-a-kempis-721_change_as-long-as-you-live-you-will-be-subject_332909.jpg) > ““As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not - now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now undevout; now vigorous, now slothful; now gloomy, now merry. But a wise man who is well taught in spiritual labor stands unshaken in all such things, and heeds little what he feels, or from what side the wind of instability blows.”” [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A wise person remains steady despite life's constant emotional and situational fluctuations, focusing on spiritual discipline rather than fleeting feelings. **In simple terms:** Stay calm despite changing feelings and circumstances. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner steadiness through spiritual practice. Themes resilience spirituality emotional balance inner strength discipline Mood reflective steady serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - daily stress - relationship conflicts - career setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts Stoicism spiritual discipline inner stability Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain calm when emotions swing wildly? - What practices help you stay grounded? A Different Perspective Even the wise can be swayed by extreme circumstances if not vigilant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-glad-3112135/) [Devout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devout/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Subject To Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-to-change/) [Things Heeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-heeds-3112136/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [“There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is: ‘To use the means at hand to inflict the maximum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladislas-farago/there-is-only-one-tactical-principle-which-is-not-subject-to-change/) [Ladislas Farago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladislas-farago/) > [“The only thing set in stone are dumb quotes and names of dead people. Everything else is subject to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-spencer/the-only-thing-set-in-stone-are-dumb-quotes-and-names-of-dead-people/) [Kimberly Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-spencer/) > [A philosopher is a lover of wisdom, not of knowledge, which for all its great uses ultimately suffers from the crippling effect of ephemerality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/a-philosopher-is-a-lover-of-wisdom-not-of-knowledge-which-for-all-its/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-only-one-tactical-principle-which-is-not-subject-to-change-2/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [“above-mentioned diversions. My eyes are green, my hair is silver, and I freckle. The rest is subject to change without notice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/above-mentioned-diversions-my-eyes-are-green-my-hair-is-silver-and-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Real things are subject to change, which revolves around reality. Get out, start moving, and be the change unless you want to sit still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/real-things-are-subject-to-change-which-revolves-around-reality-get/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [“The lesson was the same: This program is subject to change -- often unexpectedly, sometimes in the batting of an eye. It’s the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-lesson-was-the-same-this-program-is-subject-to-change-often/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Every story is flawed, every story is subject to change. Even after it is set down to print, between covers of a book, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-richmond/every-story-is-flawed-every-story-is-subject-to-change-even-after-it/) [Michelle Richmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-richmond/) > [I also take it as granted that every created thing, and consequently the created monad also, is subject to change, and indeed that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/i-also-take-it-as-granted-that-every-created-thing-and-consequently/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [“Not that it was a crazy complicated skill, but operating an espresso machine during high traffic could be added to my repertoire along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/not-that-it-was-a-crazy-complicated-skill-but-operating-an-espresso/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“His appearance gives no clue to what his profession might be, and yet he doesn't look like a man without a profession either. Consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/his-appearance-gives-no-clue-to-what-his-profession-might-be-and-yet/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [“the formulation of the symbol of the First Ecumenical Council, of which the following is a literal translation: We believe in one God the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-g-herbermann/the-formulation-of-the-symbol-of-the-first-ecumenical-council-of/) [Charles G. Herbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-g-herbermann/) > [A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Everything is subject to change except God Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/everything-is-subject-to-change-except-god-himself/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Everything is subject to change at any given moment, from my experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/everything-is-subject-to-change-at-any-given-moment-from-my-experience/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) ## More by Thomas à Kempis > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/patience-is-necessary-in-this-life-because-so-much-of-life-is-fraught/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/to-take-no-account-of-oneself-but-always-to-think-well-and-highly-of/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/it-is-easier-not-to-speak-a-word-at-all-than-to-speak-more-words-than/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“0 true and heavenly grace, without which our own merits are nothing, and our natural gifts of no account! Neither arts nor riches, beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/0-true-and-heavenly-grace-without-which-our-own-merits-are-nothing/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you would endeavor, like men of courage, to stand in the battle, surely we would feel the favorable assistance of God from heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-would-endeavor-like-men-of-courage-to-stand-in-the-battle/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“No man safely goeth abroad who loveth not to rest at home. No man safely talketh but he who loveth to hold his peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/no-man-safely-goeth-abroad-who-loveth-not-to-rest-at-home-no-man/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Nature has a relish for knowing secrets and hearing news. It wishes to appear abroad and to have sense experiences. It wishes to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/nature-has-a-relish-for-knowing-secrets-and-hearing-news-it-wishes-to/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/love-is-watchful-sleeping-it-does-not-slumber-wearied-it-is-not-tired/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you bear the cross gladly, it will bear you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-bear-the-cross-gladly-it-will-bear-you/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-thankful-for-the-smallest-blessing-and-you-will-be-worthy-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-cast-away-one-cross-you-will-certainly-find-another-and/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/dispose-thyself-to-patience-rather-than-to-comfort-and-to-the-bearing/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) [Explore all 387 Thomas à Kempis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not - now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now undevout; now vigorous, now slothful; now gloomy, now merry. 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