"I stand before you a changed man. Use me as an example of an instrument of change"
About this Quote
The key move is the pivot from confession to utility: “Use me as an example.” That’s not humility so much as a negotiation. He acknowledges the moral debt without lingering in the details, then redirects attention to what his story can do for others. “Instrument of change” is carefully chosen language: it suggests he’s not the hero of this narrative, just a tool for a broader social good. It’s also an attempt to shift the frame from punishment to purpose, from what he did to what can be done with him now.
Context matters because Vick’s public persona was never just athletic; it was symbolic. His crimes, conviction, and return unfolded in a media ecosystem eager for either permanent banishment or a clean redemption arc. This quote tries to thread that needle. It asks for reintegration without directly demanding forgiveness, offering instead a socially acceptable bargain: let my rehabilitation count as progress. The subtext is clear: don’t only judge me; recruit me.
Quote Details
| Topic | Reinvention |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Vick, Michael. (2026, January 16). I stand before you a changed man. Use me as an example of an instrument of change. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-stand-before-you-a-changed-man-use-me-as-an-114678/
Chicago Style
Vick, Michael. "I stand before you a changed man. Use me as an example of an instrument of change." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-stand-before-you-a-changed-man-use-me-as-an-114678/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I stand before you a changed man. Use me as an example of an instrument of change." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-stand-before-you-a-changed-man-use-me-as-an-114678/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.










