“Change is inevitable—except from a vending machine”
“Change is inevitable—except from a vending machine” is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers and T-shirts. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1988 and has been credited to Robert C. Gallagher, but the identity of this quotation author is unknown.
Google Books
The American Legion
Volume 125
1988
Pg. 80:
Change is inevitable— except from a vending machine.—Robert C. Gallagher
22 September 1992, Kansas City (MO) Star, “Author catalogs quotes for use of speakers on business topics” by Jennifer Greer, pg. D14:
For example, “Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine” and “Most of us will never do great things, but we can do small things in a great way.”
Google Books
19 September 1994, Network World, “Internetworking Monitor” by Scott Bradner, pg. 24, col. 4:
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
Google News Archive
28 February 1997, Lawrence (KS) Journal-World, Home Weekend, pg. 10, col. 2 ad:
“Change Is Inevitable, Except From Vending Machines.”—Seen on a bumper sticker.
(Hedges Real Estate—ed.)
Google Books
Murphy’s Law 2000:
What Else Can Go Wrong in the 21st Century
By Arthur Bloch
New York, NY: Price Stern Sloan
1999
Pg. 75:
R. C. GALLAGHER’S LAW:
Change is inevitable — except from a vending machine.
Google Books
Tweet This Book:
The 1,400 Greatest Quotes of All Time in 140 Characters Or Less
By Sayre Van Young and Marin Van Young
Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press: Distributed by Publishers Group West
2011
Pg. 43:
Change is inevitable—except from a vending machine.
Robert C. Gallagher
Google Books
Book of Business Quotations
Edited by Bill Ridgers
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2012
Pg. ?:
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
Anon