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If you believe in peace, act peacefully; if you believe in love, acting lovingly; if you believe every which way, then act every which way, that's perfectly valid- but don't go out trying to sell your beliefs to the system. You end up contradicting what you profess to believe in, and you set a bum example. If you want to change the world, change yourself.

Tom Robbins#42

BeliefActionChangeHypocrisyIntegrity

About this quote

What does it mean?
Live according to your beliefs personally rather than forcing them on others, which creates hypocrisy.
In plain terms
Practice what you preach instead of trying to convince others.
What can you take from it?
Change starts with personal action, not persuasion.

Where it applies

  • activism
  • personal development
  • conflict resolution

Putting it to work

  • align actions with values
  • lead by example
  • reflect before debating

Questions to consider

  • How do you know your actions match your words?
  • Is personal change enough to shift society?

Another view

Sometimes sharing beliefs is necessary to inspire collective action.

More from Tom Robbins

  1. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.

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  2. Bernard Mickey Wrangle had developed a psychological test of his own. It was short, simple, and infallible. To administer the test, merely ask the subject to n…

    Permalink to quote #43
  3. I'll never write another novel on an electric typewriter. I'd rather use a sharp stick and a little pile of dogshit.

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