This saying is widely credited to Angela Davis, including on a UC Santa Cruz Arts Division page. That page gives no original occasion, and source researchers have documented earlier circulating versions without a Davis credit. Her exact authorship remains unconfirmed.
“I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept” Widely attributed to Angela Davis; no original speech or publication established. Earlier unattributed versions are documented in source research.
Can you use it?
? We couldn’t establish where this was first published, so there’s no rights status to give. Credit it as shown above — just don’t present it as public domain, and get permission for commercial or published reuse.
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In context
Evoking the world of Angela Davis — Scholar and activist. Theme: "I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
The source
Attribution
Widely circulated, including institutional use
Original Davis source
Not established
Research trail
Earlier social-media forms documented by Barry Popik
The exact originator and originating publication are unresolved. A short identifying fragment is reproduced; no public-domain claim is made.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
Why it mattered
The line reverses the familiar distinction between accepting limits and changing circumstances. Its circulation on banners and institutional statements fits Davis’s public association with social transformation, but neither that fit nor repeated credit establishes that she composed these exact sentences.
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Filed under
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Angela Y. Davis is a scholar and activist whose work connects feminism, racial justice and the prison system. A distinguished professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz, she helped found Critical Resistance and has written books including Women, Race, and Class and Are Prisons Obsolete?.
For writers & researchers
Cite this
The primary source (Chicago)
UC Santa Cruz Arts Division, “DEI Statement”; Barry Popik, “I’m no longer accepting…”, 19 July 2020; Norman Oder, attribution investigation, 20 July 2020.
This verification page
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/im-no-longer-accepting-the-things-i-cannot-change-im/