--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those that say that individuals are not…" description: "\"Those that say that individuals are not capable of changing anything are only looking for excuses.\" — Vaclav Havel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/vaclav-havel-2013_capable_those-that-say-that-individuals-are-not_2951584.jpg" --- # Those that say that individuals are not capable of… ![“Those that say that individuals are not capable of changing anything are only looking for excuses.” quote by Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/vaclav-havel-2013_capable_those-that-say-that-individuals-are-not_2951584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/vaclav-havel-2013_capable_those-that-say-that-individuals-are-not_2951584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/vaclav-havel-2013_capable_those-that-say-that-individuals-are-not_2951584.jpg) > “Those that say that individuals are not capable of changing anything are only looking for excuses.” [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who claim change is impossible are merely avoiding accountability and seeking excuses. **In simple terms:** Excuses replace action when change seems hard. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for societal change. Themes activism personal responsibility change Mood determined critical Type political motivational When to use this quote - community organizing - political activism - personal decision‑making Key Concepts civic engagement psychology of denial Questions to Reflect On - Why do we default to excuses? - What structures enable real change? A Different Perspective Change also requires resources and collective effort, not just individual will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Capable Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable-changing-950395/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individuals Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-capable-1558728/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Looking Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-excuses-318348/) [Say Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-individuals-945628/) ## Related quotes > [I would like to take revenge but I'm not looking for excuses for having lost to her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dementieva/i-would-like-to-take-revenge-but-i-m-not-looking-for-excuses-for/) [Elena Dementieva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dementieva/) > [Not looking for excuses is the right thing to do. I have made a lot of mistakes, and I still make mistakes, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/not-looking-for-excuses-is-the-right-thing-to-do-i-have-made-a-lot-of/) [Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/) > [The only person stopping you from doing something is yourself, and looking for excuses all the time just gets in the way of obtaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/the-only-person-stopping-you-from-doing-something-is-yourself-and/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [“Family was about cultivating the best psychosocial and spiritual aspects of the individual. When I say individuals, I mean the children, the parents, everybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dixon/family-was-about-cultivating-the-best-psychosocial-and-spiritual/) [Patricia Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dixon/) > [I'd say that individuals are respected who stick to their convictions instead of doing whatever happens to be in fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-d-say-that-individuals-are-respected-who-stick-to-their-convictions/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [There is no upper limit to what individuals are capable of doing with their minds. There is no age limit that bars them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/there-is-no-upper-limit-to-what-individuals-are-capable-of-doing-with/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [At some point, the time will have passed when individuals are capable of major discoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dieter-heuer/at-some-point-the-time-will-have-passed-when-individuals-are-capable/) [Rolf-Dieter Heuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dieter-heuer/) > [A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-society-made-up-of-individuals-who-were-all-capable-of-original/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I would say about individuals, A Individual dies when they cease to to be surprised. I am surprised every morning when I see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/i-would-say-about-individuals-a-individual-dies-when-they-cease-to-to/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [It is fair to say there are individuals in the United States who ascribe to al-Qaeda-type beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-napolitano/it-is-fair-to-say-there-are-individuals-in-the-united-states-who/) [Janet Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-napolitano/) > [“The few individuals who are capable of spontaneous and joyous effort stand out. These are the select men, the nobles, the only ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ortega-y-gasset-jos/the-few-individuals-who-are-capable-of-spontaneous-and-joyous-effort/) [Ortega y Gasset José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ortega-y-gasset-jos/) > [People doubt me so much and they're always looking for excuses to discredit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belal-muhammad/people-doubt-me-so-much-and-they-re-always-looking-for-excuses-to/) [Belal Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belal-muhammad/) > [“Do you ever shut up? There's nothing wrong with you. You're just looking for excuses not to be brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-t-smith/do-you-ever-shut-up-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-you-you-re-just/) [Hilary T. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-t-smith/) > [I believe in just doing it and not looking for excuses because who really cares in the end? No one but oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-crow/i-believe-in-just-doing-it-and-not-looking-for-excuses-because-who/) [Nancy Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-crow/) > [How many women are ready to admit that they are capable of changing the course of their existence by simply taking time to think?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-collange/how-many-women-are-ready-to-admit-that-they-are-capable-of-changing/) [Christiane Collange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-collange/) ## More by Vaclav Havel > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People who live in the post-totalitarian system know only too well that the question of whether one or several political parties are in power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-who-live-in-the-post-totalitarian-system-know-only-too-well/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [“For by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/for-by-this-very-fact-individuals-confirm-the-system-fulfill-the/) [Václav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Hope is not a feeling of certainty that everything ends well. Hope is just a feeling that life and work have a meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/hope-is-not-a-feeling-of-certainty-that-everything-ends-well-hope-is/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [This is a confusing and uncertain period, when a thousand wise words can go completely unnoticed, and one thoughtless word can provoke an utterly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/this-is-a-confusing-and-uncertain-period-when-a-thousand-wise-words/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [If by believing you mean praying to an anthropomorphic deity who created the world and half controls it and half observes it, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/if-by-believing-you-mean-praying-to-an-anthropomorphic-deity-who/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Human beings are compelled to live within a lie, but they can be compelled to do so only because they are in fact capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/human-beings-are-compelled-to-live-within-a-lie-but-they-can-be/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Our country, if that is what we want, can now permanently radiate love, understanding, the power of the spirit and of ideas. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/our-country-if-that-is-what-we-want-can-now-permanently-radiate-love/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [I cannot imagine that I could strive for something if I did not carry hope in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-cannot-imagine-that-i-could-strive-for-something-if-i-did-not-carry/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People, your Government has returned to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-your-government-has-returned-to-you/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [A person who has been seduced by the consumer value system, whose identity is dissolved in an amalgam of the accouterments trappings of mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/a-person-who-has-been-seduced-by-the-consumer-value-system-whose/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Whether all is really lost or not depends entirely on whether or not I am lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/whether-all-is-really-lost-or-not-depends-entirely-on-whether-or-not/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Sober perseverance is more effective than enthusiastic emotions, which are all too capable of being transferred, with little difficulty, to something different each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/sober-perseverance-is-more-effective-than-enthusiastic-emotions-which/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [The exercise of power is determined by thousands of interactions between the world of the powerful and that of the powerless, all the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/the-exercise-of-power-is-determined-by-thousands-of-interactions/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It's not true that you should first think up an idea for a better world and only then "put it into practice," but, rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/it-s-not-true-that-you-should-first-think-up-an-idea-for-a-better/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) [Explore all 190 Vaclav Havel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## More Capable quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. 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