“You can’t move so fast that you try to change the mores faster than people can accept it. That doesn’t mean you do nothing, but it means that you do the things that need to be done according to priority.”
- October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962
- American
- First Lady of the United States, Diplomat, Human Rights Advocate, Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission
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Quote
“You can’t move so fast that you try to change the mores faster than people can accept it. That doesn’t mean you do nothing, but it means that you do the things that need to be done according to priority.”
Explanation
In this quote, Eleanor Roosevelt acknowledges the delicate balance between progress and patience. She cautions against pushing societal change at a pace that outstrips people’s ability to adapt. “Mores” refers to the deeply held customs and values of a society, and rapid disruption of these norms can provoke resistance rather than reform. Yet she is equally clear that this is not a call for passivity—it is a strategy of thoughtful, prioritized action.
Roosevelt was a seasoned reformer who understood both the urgency of justice and the realities of human behavior. In advocating for civil rights, women’s empowerment, and global cooperation, she often had to navigate entrenched attitudes. Her words reflect a pragmatic approach to change: start with what can be changed now, build credibility, and layer reform in a way that brings people along rather than alienates them.
This insight remains highly relevant in movements for social justice, political reform, or cultural innovation. Lasting change is not achieved through haste alone but through strategic, empathetic leadership. Roosevelt’s quote reminds us that timing, sequence, and public readiness are as critical as the vision itself—reform must be both bold and wisely paced.
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