--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today is not yesterday: we ourselves…" description: "\"Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png" --- # Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our… ![“Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, indeed is painful; yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope.” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png) > “Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, indeed is painful; yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope.” [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that change is painful but necessary, and that memory and hope give purpose amid transformation. **In simple terms:** Change hurts but drives growth; hope sustains. Key Takeaway Embrace change, remember lessons, stay hopeful. Themes change pain hope Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career transitions - personal reinvention - societal reform Key Concepts history human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance memory with moving forward? - What role does hope play in your life? A Different Perspective Hope can be fragile during upheaval. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Having hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-hope/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [I wish tomorrow was yesterday, to Change and fix everything... But sorry for me yesterday remain yesterday..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akoo/i-wish-tomorrow-was-yesterday-to-change-and-fix-everything-but-sorry/) [Akoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akoo/) > [Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/change-is-never-painful-only-the-resistance-to-change-is-painful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Grace changes us and change is painful".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/grace-changes-us-and-change-is-painful/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“I can't change what I did yesterday. I can't change what hasn't happened yet tomorrow. I can only work on the today and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/just-jewel/i-can-t-change-what-i-did-yesterday-i-can-t-change-what-hasn-t/) Just Jewel > [Cut the umbilical cord to yesterday. Although we can't change history, we change the effect the past has on the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ezell/cut-the-umbilical-cord-to-yesterday-although-we-can-t-change-history/) [Lee Ezell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ezell/) > [No one can change yesterday, but we can all change tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/no-one-can-change-yesterday-but-we-can-all-change-tomorrow/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“I’m here today because of my decisions yesterday. So I can change my tomorrow today, but I can’t change my today today. This makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-here-today-because-of-my-decisions-yesterday-so-i-can-change-my/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Don't dwell on yesterday because you can't go back and change it.Just do today you think will make better for a tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/don-t-dwell-on-yesterday-because-you-can-t-go-back-and-change-it-just/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) > [We are only possible as what happened to us yesterday. We all change as well move](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kennedy/we-are-only-possible-as-what-happened-to-us-yesterday-we-all-change/) [William Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kennedy/) > [“We can't change yesterday, but we can change tomorrow...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-poirot/we-can-t-change-yesterday-but-we-can-change-tomorrow/) [Ken Poirot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-poirot/) > [Changing your mind will not change what happened to you yesterday, but it can change your progress & joy today, & hope for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-your-mind-will-not-change-what-happened-to-you-yesterday-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every morning is a chance to forget the pains of yesterday, and see the change of a brand new day. To dance and laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-cabral/every-morning-is-a-chance-to-forget-the-pains-of-yesterday-and-see/) [Justice Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-cabral/) > [I continue to evolve as a human, I see things differently everyday so it's sure my songs will continue to change and it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilou/i-continue-to-evolve-as-a-human-i-see-things-differently-everyday-so/) [Marilou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilou/) > [What we need to do is continue to learn to tackle better, continue to change the rules so we make it safer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/what-we-need-to-do-is-continue-to-learn-to-tackle-better-continue-to/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [As we grow older together, As we continue to change with age, There is one thing that will never change. . . I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-clodfelder/as-we-grow-older-together-as-we-continue-to-change-with-age-there-is/) Karen Clodfelder ## More by Thomas Carlyle > [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) [Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## 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 > [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": "Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, indeed is painful; yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Carlyle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-change-how-can-our-works-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-change-how-can-our-works-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/thomas-carlyle-207_change_today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-chan_2114507.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Today is not yesterday: we ourselves change; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the…” — Thomas Carlyle", "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": "Thomas Carlyle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Today is not yesterday: we ourselves...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-change-how-can-our-works-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/today-is-not-yesterday-we-ourselves-change-how-can-our-works-and/#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 } } ] } ```