--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before you can make a difference, you…" description: "\"Before you can make a difference, you have to believe you can.\" — Anne Sweeney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png" --- # Before you can make a difference, you have to believe you… ![“Before you can make a difference, you have to believe you can.” quote by Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png) > “Before you can make a difference, you have to believe you can.” [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑belief is the prerequisite for making an impact; confidence precedes action. **In simple terms:** Believe in yourself to make a difference. Key Takeaway Build confidence before acting. Themes confidence leadership impact Mood determined optimistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - public speaking - entrepreneurship - community service - team management Key Concepts psychology self‑efficacy motivation Questions to Reflect On - What belief holds you back? - How can you test your confidence? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Making a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-difference/) [You can make a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-can-make-a-difference/) ## Related quotes > [One person can make a difference. In fact, its not only possible for one person to make a difference, its essential that one person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-riley/one-person-can-make-a-difference-in-fact-its-not-only-possible-for/) [Bob Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-riley/) > [Believe that you can make a difference; in fact, you do with every single choice you make. Your money is your power and each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/believe-that-you-can-make-a-difference-in-fact-you-do-with-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/you-re-the-only-one-who-can-make-the-difference-whatever-your-dream/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [To say that on a daily basis you can make a difference, well, you can. One act of kindness a day can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-williams/to-say-that-on-a-daily-basis-you-can-make-a-difference-well-you-can/) [Betty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-williams/) > [I believe that one of the most important things to learn in life is that you can make a difference in your community no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalynn-carter/i-believe-that-one-of-the-most-important-things-to-learn-in-life-is/) [Rosalynn Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalynn-carter/) > [If you can capture the humanity of a family struggling in an economic crisis you can make a difference. You can raise awareness just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-blunt/if-you-can-capture-the-humanity-of-a-family-struggling-in-an-economic/) [Emily Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-blunt/) > [Find ways to embrace the things that make you unique, and you'll unlock the ways you can make a difference in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/find-ways-to-embrace-the-things-that-make-you-unique-and-you-ll/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [You'd better make sure that you know you can make a difference, and if it's a difference you want to make, is there another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/you-d-better-make-sure-that-you-know-you-can-make-a-difference-and-if/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [To know that once you decide to look at life outside of the narrow limits of just your world and start to understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/to-know-that-once-you-decide-to-look-at-life-outside-of-the-narrow/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [It is 'where we are' that should make all the difference, whether we believe we belong there or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/it-is-where-we-are-that-should-make-all-the-difference-whether-we/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [The test of your worldview is not how you act in the good times. The test of your worldview is how you act at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-test-of-your-worldview-is-not-how-you-act-in-the-good-times-the/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Individuals sometimes feel insignificant and doubt that one person can really make a difference in this world. Well, believe me, one person can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/individuals-sometimes-feel-insignificant-and-doubt-that-one-person/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [If you care enough, you make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-swit/if-you-care-enough-you-make-a-difference/) [Loretta Swit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-swit/) > [“Focus on your work. Do what you're great at. Don't compare yourself to others and or waste time criticizing the lives and work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-on-your-work-do-what-you-re-great-at-don-t-compare-yourself-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [There can be no difference anywhere that does not make a difference somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/there-can-be-no-difference-anywhere-that-does-not-make-a-difference/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## More by Anne Sweeney > [I am deeply honored that my team is being recognized by H.S.H. Prince Albert II and the Festival de Television de Monte-Carlo for Disney/ABC's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/i-am-deeply-honored-that-my-team-is-being-recognized-by-h-s-h-prince/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [When you are producing for ABC, you are producing for a big tent network. So when you are thinking about your story lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/when-you-are-producing-for-abc-you-are-producing-for-a-big-tent/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [Our company has been very forward-thinking about digital technology and the opportunity that it gives us. As we move into a world where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/our-company-has-been-very-forward-thinking-about-digital-technology/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [Television has always been something you watch; now, increasingly, it is also something you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/television-has-always-been-something-you-watch-now-increasingly-it-is/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [The more opportunities people have to experience television on different platforms, the more television they consume overall. So there actually has been a benefit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/the-more-opportunities-people-have-to-experience-television-on/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [It’s amazing what you can do when you stop worrying about failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/it-s-amazing-what-you-can-do-when-you-stop-worrying-about-failing/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [One of the things that is very important to me is how I feel about my team. And not just what their jobs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/one-of-the-things-that-is-very-important-to-me-is-how-i-feel-about-my/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [I think we all realize the consumer has taken control, and they're not giving it back. So as every new technology comes forward, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/i-think-we-all-realize-the-consumer-has-taken-control-and-they-re-not/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [I never looked at a title and said, I want that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/i-never-looked-at-a-title-and-said-i-want-that/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [The value of the television network is partly tradition, serving as a navigation device and as a brand. Research shows that people do know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/the-value-of-the-television-network-is-partly-tradition-serving-as-a/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [I'm naturally curious, and I've always been driven by my curiosity. Curiosity gets people excited. Curiosity leads to new ideas, new jobs, new industries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/i-m-naturally-curious-and-i-ve-always-been-driven-by-my-curiosity/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [To have influence, you really don't need to have power. But what you need more than anything else is to have that almost uncanny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/to-have-influence-you-really-don-t-need-to-have-power-but-what-you/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [I believe in having total clarity around our goals. I believe in creating these goals together as a group and making sure they're aligned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/i-believe-in-having-total-clarity-around-our-goals-i-believe-in/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [A good leader should focus on making sure everyone is being given the tools to do their job, not just expecting - poof! -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/a-good-leader-should-focus-on-making-sure-everyone-is-being-given-the/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [Today, television is the most powerful medium in the world. Tomorrow it will also be the most personal. There is no one future for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/today-television-is-the-most-powerful-medium-in-the-world-tomorrow-it/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) [Explore all 42 Anne Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before you can make a difference, you have to believe you can.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anne Sweeney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-have-to-believe-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-have-to-believe-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/anne-sweeney-15592_belief_before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-hav_2755428.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before you can make a difference, you have to believe you can.” — Anne Sweeney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anne Sweeney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before you can make a difference,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-have-to-believe-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/before-you-can-make-a-difference-you-have-to-believe-you-can/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```