--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Changing things is not easy, and I say…" description: "\"Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vladimir-putin-261_complicated_changing-things-is-not-easy-and-i-say-th_1911959.jpg" --- # Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any… ![“Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obama, a forward-thinking man, a liberal, a democrat. Did he not pledge to shut down Guantanamo before his election? But did he do it? No, he did not…” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vladimir-putin-261_complicated_changing-things-is-not-easy-and-i-say-th_1911959.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vladimir-putin-261_complicated_changing-things-is-not-easy-and-i-say-th_1911959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/vladimir-putin-261_complicated_changing-things-is-not-easy-and-i-say-th_1911959.jpg) > “Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obama, a forward-thinking man, a liberal, a democrat. Did he not pledge to shut down Guantanamo before his election? But did he do it? No, he did not. And may I ask why not? Did he not want to do it? He wanted to, I am sure he did, but it did not work out. He sincerely wanted to do it, but did not succeed, since it turned out to be very complicated.” [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing policies is difficult due to systemic complexity, not lack of intent. **In simple terms:** Hard tasks fail because they’re complex, not because leaders don’t want them. Key Takeaway Expect resistance when tackling entrenched issues. Themes politics leadership policy implementation Mood frustrated realistic Type analytical critical When to use this quote - government reform - foreign policy - institutional change - public expectations - legislative hurdles Key Concepts systemic inertia public expectation political promises Questions to Reflect On - What structural barriers prevent promised reforms? - How can leaders align intent with feasible action? A Different Perspective Even sincere intent can be thwarted by bureaucratic and legal obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing/) [Changing Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-things/) [Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Hard things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Man Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-liberal-514752/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Obama Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-forward-2884772/) [Pledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pledge/) [Shut Guantanamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut-guantanamo-2884771/) [Sincerely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerely/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [For a man who has compared himself to Theodore Roosevelt and the nation's challenges to those of the Gilded Age, Obama put forward a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/for-a-man-who-has-compared-himself-to-theodore-roosevelt-and-the/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [“Face it. “The Man” is a liberal. “The Establishment” is liberal. The system liberals hate is liberalism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonzo-rachel/face-it-the-man-is-a-liberal-the-establishment-is-liberal-the-system/) [AlfonZo Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonzo-rachel/) > [Wenger simply doesn't like those who show a weakness. With him you generally feel as if you were in the army. It's only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-ljungberg/wenger-simply-doesn-t-like-those-who-show-a-weakness-with-him-you/) [Freddie Ljungberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-ljungberg/) > [Any appellative at all savouring of arbitrary rank is unsuitable to a man of liberal and catholic mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/any-appellative-at-all-savouring-of-arbitrary-rank-is-unsuitable-to-a/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I'm more of a man than any liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-m-more-of-a-man-than-any-liberal/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [To a man of liberal education, the study of history is not only useful, and important, but altogether indispensable, and with regard to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/to-a-man-of-liberal-education-the-study-of-history-is-not-only-useful/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [No man can call himself liberal, or radical, or even a conservative advocate of fair play, if his work depends in any way on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/no-man-can-call-himself-liberal-or-radical-or-even-a-conservative/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [“Of all the many changing things In dreary dancing past us whirled, To the cracked tune that Chronos sings, Words alone are certain good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/of-all-the-many-changing-things-in-dreary-dancing-past-us-whirled-to/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I can't remember who said, 'No film is completed, just abandoned,' but I think most filmmakers will tell you that they could endlessly fiddle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/i-can-t-remember-who-said-no-film-is-completed-just-abandoned-but-i/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [When people with power see things happen of which they disapprove, they drop bombs and send in tanks. When people without power see things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-with-power-see-things-happen-of-which-they-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forever is a long long time and time has a way of changing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/forever-is-a-long-long-time-and-time-has-a-way-of-changing-things/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [There's a sense of knowing when to stop and take a break from things, to step back from the work you're making, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fox/there-s-a-sense-of-knowing-when-to-stop-and-take-a-break-from-things/) [Dan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fox/) > [“The Song Of The Happy Shepherd The woods of Arcady are dead, And over is their antique joy; Of old the world on dreaming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-song-of-the-happy-shepherd-the-woods-of-arcady-are-dead-and-over/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Changing things from the top down works when things are stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/changing-things-from-the-top-down-works-when-things-are-stable/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-is-not-just-changing-the-things-outside-of-us-first-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Vladimir Putin > [We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-shall-fight-against-them-throw-them-in-prisons-and-destroy-them/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Personally, I think that children should be left alone, they should be given an opportunity to grow up, to become aware of themselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/personally-i-think-that-children-should-be-left-alone-they-should-be/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Yes, life in Chechnya so far looks more like a life after a natural disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/yes-life-in-chechnya-so-far-looks-more-like-a-life-after-a-natural/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I'd rather not deal with such questions, because anyway it's like shearing a pig - lots of screams but little wool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-d-rather-not-deal-with-such-questions-because-anyway-it-s-like/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Europeans are really dying out!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/europeans-are-really-dying-out/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [We see Serbs as our spiritual brothers. And that is what is at the base of our relations today and in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-see-serbs-as-our-spiritual-brothers-and-that-is-what-is-at-the/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ They \[leaders in Western Europe\] do not misuse financial instruments, financial injections, but, first of all, seek structural change. This is urgent for our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/they-leaders-in-western-europe-do-not-misuse-financial-instruments/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Terrorism has once again shown it is prepared deliberately to stop at nothing in creating human victims. An end must be put to this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/terrorism-has-once-again-shown-it-is-prepared-deliberately-to-stop-at/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Contractors always pursue large profit, the customer - a high-quality end product in due time and at a lower cost. This struggle never ends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/contractors-always-pursue-large-profit-the-customer-a-high-quality/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in Russia, unlike in one third of the world's countries, being gay is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-would-like-to-draw-your-attention-to-the-fact-that-in-russia-unlike/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The sanctions may be imposed only by the decision of the UN Security Council. A unilateral imposition of sanctions is a violation of international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-sanctions-may-be-imposed-only-by-the-decision-of-the-un-security/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/whoever-does-not-miss-the-soviet-union-has-no-heart-whoever-wants-it/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Anyhow, we obviously understand that, being a United States' ally and having a special relationship with it, the UK in its relations with Russian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/anyhow-we-obviously-understand-that-being-a-united-states-ally-and/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) [Explore all 793 Vladimir Putin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) ## More Changing quotes > [“The game is changing' .. :The game is the same, the stakes are rising.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/the-game-is-changing-the-game-is-the-same-the-stakes-are-rising/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [“No one ever changed the world waking up at noon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-chalfant/no-one-ever-changed-the-world-waking-up-at-noon/) [Connor Chalfant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-chalfant/) > [Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/progress-should-mean-that-we-are-always-changing-the-world-to-fit-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-is-not-just-changing-the-things-outside-of-us-first-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [I approach fashion as an evolution. It's always changing. As you know, sometimes it changes in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-approach-fashion-as-an-evolution-it-s-always-changing-as-you-know/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [When I come home from work, if I just played a really good game and I'm on top of the world, I think changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/when-i-come-home-from-work-if-i-just-played-a-really-good-game-and-i/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [It's not about changing--it's about growing, together," he said, like the wise soul that he was. "I wanted to let you know--that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-schreiber/it-s-not-about-changing-it-s-about-growing-together-he-said-like-the/) [Ellen Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-schreiber/) > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [There's more to Gareth's game than scoring goals, he's brought a lot to the changing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/there-s-more-to-gareth-s-game-than-scoring-goals-he-s-brought-a-lot/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [“A shift was taking place in my life - the beach house, Kyle, Tristan; the tides were changing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/a-shift-was-taking-place-in-my-life-the-beach-house-kyle-tristan-the/) [Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/) > [If the team keeps changing then everything has to keep changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/if-the-team-keeps-changing-then-everything-has-to-keep-changing/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [As I feel this life growing and moving inside of me, all of a sudden everything else is not as important. There's a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-reyes/as-i-feel-this-life-growing-and-moving-inside-of-me-all-of-a-sudden/) [Judy Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-reyes/) > [Truthfully, being pregnant is changing me as a person. Each day is part of this amazing journey that has completely shifted the focus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/truthfully-being-pregnant-is-changing-me-as-a-person-each-day-is-part/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) [Browse all 1,835 Changing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obama, a forward-thinking man, a liberal, a democrat. Did he not pledge to shut down Guantanamo before his election? But did he do it? No, he did not. 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