--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: change is no longer a matter of choice…" description: "\"“change is no longer a matter of choice. Our present trajectory tells us it’s coming whether we want it to or not. The only question is what form this ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/wayne-visser-31322_change_change-is-no-longer-a-matter-of-choice-o_2171281.jpg" --- # change is no longer a matter of choice. Our present… ![“change is no longer a matter of choice. Our present trajectory tells us it’s coming whether we want it to or not. The only question is what form this change is going to take.” quote by Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/wayne-visser-31322_change_change-is-no-longer-a-matter-of-choice-o_2171281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/wayne-visser-31322_change_change-is-no-longer-a-matter-of-choice-o_2171281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/wayne-visser-31322_change_change-is-no-longer-a-matter-of-choice-o_2171281.jpg) > ““change is no longer a matter of choice. Our present trajectory tells us it’s coming whether we want it to or not. The only question is what form this change is going to take.”” [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change is inevitable and will happen regardless of choice; the key is to shape its form. **In simple terms:** Change is unavoidable; focus on its shape. Key Takeaway Influence how change manifests rather than resisting it. Themes change inevitability agency Mood analytical forward‑looking Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - environmental policy - technological disruption - personal habits Key Concepts future scenarios strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What form of change can you steer in your life? - How can you prepare for inevitable shifts? A Different Perspective May underestimate resistance to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-going/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Present Trajectory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-trajectory-4651118/) [Tells Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells-coming-3002264/) ## Related quotes > [The Lord tells us where we are going and tells us when we are coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-knight/the-lord-tells-us-where-we-are-going-and-tells-us-when-we-are-coming/) [Gladys Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-knight/) > [If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-like-change-you-re-going-to-like-irrelevance-even-less-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Climate change is not going away. It will only get more extreme and more dangerous with time. There is no hiding from it. Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/climate-change-is-not-going-away-it-will-only-get-more-extreme-and/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [If the culture you have is radically different from an 'experiment and take-risk' culture, then you have a big change you going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/if-the-culture-you-have-is-radically-different-from-an-experiment-and/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [“I have to believe we have the option to change who we are and where we are going, anytime. This is what gives us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-jane-mauro/i-have-to-believe-we-have-the-option-to-change-who-we-are-and-where/) [Kaitlyn Jane Mauro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-jane-mauro/) > [I want to lead. I want to change. And I'm going to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/i-want-to-lead-i-want-to-change-and-i-m-going-to-do-it/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [If you really want to see change, and have change, you're going to have to get involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-mccain/if-you-really-want-to-see-change-and-have-change-you-re-going-to-have/) [Cindy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-mccain/) > [None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting a few months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/none-of-us-knows-what-the-next-change-is-going-to-be-what-unexpected/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [There's always going to be something from one season to the next that's going to be a challenge, that's going to have change, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-always-going-to-be-something-from-one-season-to-the-next-that/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [We didn't want to change who we are. We're not going to sit there and go, 'Let's be a rap band now.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/we-didn-t-want-to-change-who-we-are-we-re-not-going-to-sit-there-and/) [Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/) > [Even when change is elective, it will disorient you. You may go through anxiety. You will miss aspects of your former life. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/even-when-change-is-elective-it-will-disorient-you-you-may-go-through/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [“You can't change the past, you know? You can't change who you were, but you can change who you're going to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-christo/you-can-t-change-the-past-you-know-you-can-t-change-who-you-were-but/) [Rose Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-christo/) > [I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-m-still-ghetto-that-s-not-going-to-change-i-m-never-going-to-change/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [I think regardless of hip injury, surgery or whatnot, you're having to evolve and change how you're going about your day just as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/i-think-regardless-of-hip-injury-surgery-or-whatnot-you-re-having-to/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) > [If Egypt were going to change, it is going to change through the young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-egypt-were-going-to-change-it-is-going-to-change-through-the-young/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) ## More by Wayne Visser > [“If we enjoy the right to freedom, it is because we accept our responsibility not to harm or harass others. If we expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/if-we-enjoy-the-right-to-freedom-it-is-because-we-accept-our/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“CSR is the way in which business consistently creates shared value in society through economic development, good governance, stakeholder responsiveness and environmental improvement. Put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/csr-is-the-way-in-which-business-consistently-creates-shared-value-in/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [Responsibility is the choice we make to respond with care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/responsibility-is-the-choice-we-make-to-respond-with-care/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“Responsibility is literally what it says – our ability to respond. It is a choice we make – whether to be attentive to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/responsibility-is-literally-what-it-says-our-ability-to-respond-it-is/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“The first industrial revolution is flawed. It is not working. It is unsustainable. It is a mistake and we must move on to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/the-first-industrial-revolution-is-flawed-it-is-not-working-it-is/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [We have to make sustainable living convenient, sustainable business profitable & sustainable change fashionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/we-have-to-make-sustainable-living-convenient-sustainable-business/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“In sum, the most commonly used stock and bond market benchmark indexes cause economic harm, distort pricing information, and cause financial behaviours that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/in-sum-the-most-commonly-used-stock-and-bond-market-benchmark-indexes/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“business as the only force in today’s world that’s got it all: a universal presence, an ability to get things done quickly and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/business-as-the-only-force-in-today-s-world-that-s-got-it-all-a/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“solving these complex social, environmental and ethical problems is not the mandate of CSR, nor within its capacity to achieve. My response is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/solving-these-complex-social-environmental-and-ethical-problems-is/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“The most recent 100-year linear trend shows a 0.74°C increase in temperature in the century to 2005 (which is larger than the 100-year trend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/the-most-recent-100-year-linear-trend-shows-a-0-74-c-increase-in/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“Responsibility is not a guarantee of success, but a commitment to trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/responsibility-is-not-a-guarantee-of-success-but-a-commitment-to/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“We have the Bill of Rights. What we need is a Bill of Responsibilities. —Bill Maher”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/we-have-the-bill-of-rights-what-we-need-is-a-bill-of-responsibilities-2/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [There are moments when suddenly our eyes blink open and we recapture the excitement of living. Life becomes an adventure and we, adventurers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/there-are-moments-when-suddenly-our-eyes-blink-open-and-we-recapture/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“capital flows to wherever the social or environmental standards are lowest. Not only this, but capitalism is designed to create the instability that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/capital-flows-to-wherever-the-social-or-environmental-standards-are/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“The number of people who are undernourished has continued to grow, while slow progress in reducing the prevalence of hunger stalled – or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/the-number-of-people-who-are-undernourished-has-continued-to-grow/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) [Explore all 16 Wayne Visser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) ## 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": "“change is no longer a matter of choice. 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