Nelson Mandela Quotes

We can’t change the world. The only thing we can change is ourselves, by trying to get a better understanding of our own messed-up wiring.

Before you can do something you must first be something.

The transformation of the world is brought about by the transformation of oneself.

There are any number of conditions as to why your life didn't turn out the way you intended it to. My whole philosophy has always been that there is no way to change anything else in the world if you don't have the capacity to change yourself.

The craving to change the world is perhaps a reflection of the craving to change ourselves.

To transform the world, we must begin with ourselves; and what is important in beginning with ourselves is the intention. The intention must be to understand ourselves and not to leave it to others to transform themselves or to bring about a modified change through revolution, either of the left or of the right. It is important to understand that this is our responsibility, yours and mine.

The message I'm sending to myself - I can't change the world until I change myself first.

The only way to change consciousness and the world around us is to start with yourself.

I learnt one thing in the past or in my life: the only person you can change is yourself, and it has to come from within.

Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene.

I do not believe in political movements. I believe in personal movement, that movement of the soul when a man who looks at himself is so ashamed that he tries to make some sort of change - within himself, not on the outside.

Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are.

Not even analysis, by itself, can transform you. You must still do the changing yourself.

What you are the world is. And without your transformation, there can be no transformation of the world.

Well, wherever you go, whatever you do, you're still you. You can change your surroundings, start a new life, but you'll always fall into the same old patterns, make the same kind of friends, commit the same mistakes. The thing you need to change is yourself.

You are your only hope, because we're not changing until you do. Our job is to keep coming at you, as hard as we can, with everything that angers, upsets, or repulses you, until you understand. We love you that much, whether we're aware of it or not. The whole world is about you.

He who goes about to reform the world must begin with himself, or he loses his labor.

...Stop blaming me, thinking I'm the problem. If you think I'm the problem, then you have to change me. If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser. Most people want everyone else in the world to change themselves. Let me tell you, it's easier to change yourself than everyone else.

The man who is deeply discontented with himself is probably growing fast into the full likeness of Christ.

you cannot hope for change in others, you can only work toward it in yourself. And that's hard work.

You don't need to change the world; you need to change yourself.

Actually, it does start with you - if you want to change the world, change yourself.

Change yourself and you have done your part in changing the world

Most people would rather change their circumstances to improve their lives when instead they need to change themselves to improve their circumstances. They put in just enough effort to distance themselves from their problems without ever trying to go after the root, which can often be found in themselves. Because they don't try to change the source of their problems, their problems keep coming back at them.

What we can and should change is ourselves: our impatience, our egoism (including intellectual egoism), our sense of injury, our lack of love and forbearance. I regard every other attempt to change the world, even if it springs from the best intentions, as futile.