“But that's the challenge -- to change the system more than it changes you.”

—  Michael Pollan , book The Omnivore's Dilemma

Source: The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "But that's the challenge -- to change the system more than it changes you." by Michael Pollan?
Michael Pollan photo
Michael Pollan 37
American author, journalist, activist, and professor of jou… 1955

Related quotes

Immortal Technique photo

“The problem with conformists will always be that when you try to change the system from within, it's not you who changes the system. It's the system that will eventually change you”

Immortal Technique (1978) American rapper and activist

The Poverty of Philosophy
Albums, Revolutionary Vol. 1 (2001)

John Lennon photo

“If you want to change the system, change the system. It's no good shooting people.”

John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter

Playboy interview (1980)

Viktor E. Frankl photo

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Viktor E. Frankl book Man's Search for Meaning

Source: Man's Search for Meaning

Ram Dass photo

“As one individual changes, the system changes.”

Ram Dass (1931–2019) American contemporary spiritual teacher and the author of the 1971 book Be Here Now
Starhawk photo

“Systems don't change easily. Systems try to maintain themselves, and seek equilibrium. To change a system, you need to shake it up, disrupt the equilibrium. That often requires conflict.”

Starhawk (1951) American author, activist and Neopagan

Toward an Activist Spirituality (2003)
Context: Systems don't change easily. Systems try to maintain themselves, and seek equilibrium. To change a system, you need to shake it up, disrupt the equilibrium. That often requires conflict.
To me, conflict is a deeply spiritual place. It's the high-energy place where power meets power, where change and transformation can occur.

“The trouble in school is that you can do so little to help kids because you come up against this dead end of the educational system. I think a comprehensive system is the only answer for these kids, if it is carried through properly. But education reflects the system, rather than changes it. People say it’s an instrument of social change; well, if it is, it’s a bloody slow one. I think education reflects the class system, and the system has to change before education can.”

Barry Hines (1939–2016) British author

Barry Hines 1970 interview

Jennifer Beals photo

“Just when you think you know something, it gets turned around and challenged in some way. But those changes are welcome because you end up learning more.”

Jennifer Beals (1963) American actress and a former teen model

Interview in First for Women magazine (February 8, 2010, p. 46) http://jennifer-beals.com/media/press/first.html.

David King (chemist) photo

“Climate change is not the biggest challenge of our time, it's the biggest challenge of all time.”

David King (chemist) (1939) British academic and scientific adviser

https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/blog-post/2342417/sir-david-king-climate-change-is-not-the-biggest-challenge-of-our-time-its-the-biggest-challenge-of-all-time (2014)

“No matter what challenging situation you may find yourself in, imagine the best outcome of it and feel it! When you do, you will change the circumstances, and you will change the situation into what you want!”

Rhonda Byrne (1951) Australian writer and producer

Related topics