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About this quote

What does it mean?
Systemic improvement requires a prior shift in human consciousness.
In plain terms
Systems change only when people's minds change.
What can you take from it?
Change starts with consciousness.

Where it applies

  • organizational reform
  • social movements
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • focus on mindset change
  • educate before restructuring

Questions to consider

  • Can systems change without minds changing?
  • How do we shift consciousness?

Another view

Consciousness shifts are hard to measure or enforce.

More from Vaclav Havel

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  2. Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.

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  3. It's not true that you should first think up an idea for a better world and only then 'put it into practice,' but, rather, through the fact of your existence i…

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