--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're younger, you see the people…" description: "\"When you're younger, you see the people who are in power and think they must have that position because of some degree of skill. And as you get older, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/anonymous-1_about-yourself_when-you-re-younger-you-see-the-people-w_3135248.jpg" --- # When you're younger, you see the people who are in power… ![“When you're younger, you see the people who are in power and think they must have that position because of some degree of skill. And as you get older, you realize it's not true, that most people in those positions are absolutely inept. And this naturally makes you feel better about yourself.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/anonymous-1_about-yourself_when-you-re-younger-you-see-the-people-w_3135248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/anonymous-1_about-yourself_when-you-re-younger-you-see-the-people-w_3135248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/anonymous-1_about-yourself_when-you-re-younger-you-see-the-people-w_3135248.jpg) > “When you're younger, you see the people who are in power and think they must have that position because of some degree of skill. And as you get older, you realize it's not true, that most people in those positions are absolutely inept. And this naturally makes you feel better about yourself.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power often stems from circumstance, not skill; recognizing this can boost self-esteem and reduce envy. **In simple terms:** Power isn’t always earned; it can be accidental. Key Takeaway Realize competence isn’t the only path to authority. Themes power perception self-esteem leadership Mood thoughtful empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - politics - organizational hierarchy Key Concepts social dynamics competence illusion career advancement Questions to Reflect On - How does this view change your ambition? - What steps can you take to develop genuine skill? A Different Perspective Assuming power equals skill can lead to misjudgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Younger people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/younger-people/) ## Related quotes > [The older I get the more I realize how simple life is and how complicated I make it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-how-simple-life-is-and-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you get older you realize its not as important to have a lot of friends. Its more important to have real friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-get-older-you-realize-its-not-as-important-to-have-a-lot-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As you grow older, you realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-grow-older-you-realize-it-becomes-less-important-to-have-more-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Compromise, eh?..You start off thinking you can kill all the baddies and save the world. Then you get a little bit older..and you realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/compromise-eh-you-start-off-thinking-you-can-kill-all-the-baddies-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We still talk, but it isn't like it used to be...I never used to feel like I was your second best, you said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-still-talk-but-it-isn-t-like-it-used-to-be-i-never-used-to-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The older I get, the more I realize what really matters in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-what-really-matters-in-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Older I get, the more I realize how much I hate people ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-how-much-i-hate-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The older you get, the more you realize that seeking approval of others is a total waste of time. Being at peace with God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-older-you-get-the-more-you-realize-that-seeking-approval-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As you get older, you realize what qualities are really important when youre looking for a life partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-get-older-you-realize-what-qualities-are-really-important-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think I'm in any position to give anybody advice about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-think-i-m-in-any-position-to-give-anybody-advice-about/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [“I don't think I'm in the position to bestow legitimacy on anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/i-don-t-think-i-m-in-the-position-to-bestow-legitimacy-on-anyone/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [I think I put myself in a position where I have all kinds of opportunities available to me, if God forbid something doesn't work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-yee/i-think-i-put-myself-in-a-position-where-i-have-all-kinds-of/) [Angela Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-yee/) > [If there's a problem, I prefer to have to swallow that myself than force a team-mate to do so. I think about them because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/if-there-s-a-problem-i-prefer-to-have-to-swallow-that-myself-than/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [“Consequentialists wish to pronounce something by terms and concepts from the perspective of these others in order to invalidate their wrong views. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/consequentialists-wish-to-pronounce-something-by-terms-and-concepts/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [Honestly, I think in any position there's some sort of pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/honestly-i-think-in-any-position-there-s-some-sort-of-pressure/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More About yourself quotes > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/dreams-really-tell-you-about-yourself-more-than-anything-else-in-this/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [Celebrate all the things you don't like about yourself. love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/celebrate-all-the-things-you-don-t-like-about-yourself-love-yourself/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Start enjoying the things you like about yourself, and if there are things you want to change, either get to work on it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/start-enjoying-the-things-you-like-about-yourself-and-if-there-are/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [Always be yourself. There's only one you. You should embrace anything that you don't like about yourself because that's individual and that's you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesy-nelson/always-be-yourself-there-s-only-one-you-you-should-embrace-anything/) [Jesy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesy-nelson/) > [It's too distracting to read about yourself. You want to be perfect and you want everyone to love you, and that's never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/it-s-too-distracting-to-read-about-yourself-you-want-to-be-perfect/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The only thing a master can teach is how to learn about yourself. There are no secrets. They are only techniques to waken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-only-thing-a-master-can-teach-is-how-to-learn-about-yourself/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I don't want to sell myself short. You hurt your spouse, not so much by the infidelity, but by the negative feelings about yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-don-t-want-to-sell-myself-short-you-hurt-your-spouse-not-so-much-by/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [A stranger can see in an instant something in you that you might spend years learning about yourself. 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Then tell the truth to yourself about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/start-telling-the-truth-now-and-never-stop-begin-by-telling-the-truth/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Browse all 770 About yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're younger, you see the people who are in power and think they must have that position because of some degree of skill. And as you get older, you realize it's not true, that most people in those positions are absolutely inept. 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