--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's only when you hitch your wagon to…" description: "\"It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg" --- # It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger… ![“It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg) > “It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aligning personal goals with larger causes reveals hidden strengths and purpose. **In simple terms:** Joining bigger causes unlocks true potential. Key Takeaway Commit to causes larger than yourself. Themes purpose potential alignment service growth Mood inspirational determined Type motivational visionary When to use this quote - volunteering - community projects - career choices - advocacy work Key Concepts self‑actualization collective impact mission focus Questions to Reflect On - What larger purpose resonates with you? - How can you balance personal goals with collective needs? A Different Perspective Personal ambition may clash with larger agendas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hitch Wagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitch-wagon-1597616/) [Larger Realize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larger-realize-2155068/) [Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [True potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-potential/) [Wagon Larger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wagon-larger-2155067/) [Wagons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wagons/) ## Related quotes > [My daddy used to say that I was too big to ride and too little to hitch a wagon - no good for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-blocker/my-daddy-used-to-say-that-i-was-too-big-to-ride-and-too-little-to/) [Dan Blocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-blocker/) > [Now, however, I see the folly of attempting to hitch one's wagon to a star with a harness that does not belong to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/now-however-i-see-the-folly-of-attempting-to-hitch-one-s-wagon-to-a/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I'll let you in on a secret ...How to avoid taking a wrong turn. I speak from experience. Don't blame the world around you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yellow-tanabe/i-ll-let-you-in-on-a-secret-how-to-avoid-taking-a-wrong-turn-i-speak/) [Yellow Tanabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yellow-tanabe/) > [Hitch your wagon to a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/hitch-your-wagon-to-a-star/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/focusing-your-life-solely-on-making-a-buck-shows-a-certain-poverty-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Most people aren't even close to tapping into their true potential; they have no idea what they are capable of in their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-basevic/most-people-aren-t-even-close-to-tapping-into-their-true-potential/) [Mike Basevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-basevic/) > [It's easier to limit yourself, but if you do, you will never reach your true potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-witty/it-s-easier-to-limit-yourself-but-if-you-do-you-will-never-reach-your/) [Chris Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-witty/) > [The greatest tragedy is that many of us spent our life without knowing about our true potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/the-greatest-tragedy-is-that-many-of-us-spent-our-life-without/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [“Yes you can be a time traveler, journeying to various lokas. You have such powers. Without travelling you can reach far fl ung places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aporva-kala/yes-you-can-be-a-time-traveler-journeying-to-various-lokas-you-have/) [Aporva Kala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aporva-kala/) > [“Every person is a star; it just depends upon how close you are to him, that you realize his true potential and power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-rajopadhye-rotti/every-person-is-a-star-it-just-depends-upon-how-close-you-are-to-him/) [Rupali Rajopadhye Rotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupali-rajopadhye-rotti/) > [I was 'alone' amongst the animal kingdom and I required of myself to see what was truly going on inside me so that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-treadwell/i-was-alone-amongst-the-animal-kingdom-and-i-required-of-myself-to/) [Timothy Treadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-treadwell/) > [What we should celebrate more than diversity is what we do with it. How do we bring everyone in the tent and create something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/what-we-should-celebrate-more-than-diversity-is-what-we-do-with-it/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/as-children-of-god-we-are-somebody-he-will-build-us-mold-us-and/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [ “We believe our true potential is reached by helping others reach \[his or her\] potential.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-larsen/we-believe-our-true-potential-is-reached-by-helping-others-reach-his/) [Dallin Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-larsen/) > [Things happen to you to make you realize your true potential, strength, will power, and heart. Have faith and stay strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/things-happen-to-you-to-make-you-realize-your-true-potential-strength/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Potential quotes > [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [I'm a great believer in people and their untapped potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-bester/i-m-a-great-believer-in-people-and-their-untapped-potential/) [Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-bester/) > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [There is potential for more Chinese investment in India's infrastructure, and there are already Chinese investors in India's power and telecoms sector as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-bhattacharya/there-is-potential-for-more-chinese-investment-in-india-s/) [Arundhati Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-bhattacharya/) > [I have faith in the players, who have paid me back on the pitch. I have brought in young players because they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karim-benzema/i-have-faith-in-the-players-who-have-paid-me-back-on-the-pitch-i-have/) [Karim Benzema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-benzema/) > [Let your mind be its own and enjoy what you can not all things in life are in need of a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/let-your-mind-be-its-own-and-enjoy-what-you-can-not-all-things-in/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [“Your journey through life and self-discovery is much like the start of a new day. As you grow, develop, and reinvent yourself, the tendrils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-narofsky/your-journey-through-life-and-self-discovery-is-much-like-the-start/) [Thomas Narofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-narofsky/) > [“When we perform at our highest level of potential, we are content. Because we have given I best in what we enjoy doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/when-we-perform-at-our-highest-level-of-potential-we-are-content/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [We all have a potential revolutionary energy inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-lelio/we-all-have-a-potential-revolutionary-energy-inside/) [Sebastian Lelio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-lelio/) > [I was always confident that if someone took the chance to play me week in and week out that I would fulfil my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-was-always-confident-that-if-someone-took-the-chance-to-play-me/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We're fortunate enough to live on a planet that's bathed in thousands of times more energy than we use and that's stocked with thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/we-re-fortunate-enough-to-live-on-a-planet-that-s-bathed-in-thousands/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > [It doesn't surprise me at all that a Treasury secretary would find a decentralized potential currency... to be hostile to a currency that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/it-doesn-t-surprise-me-at-all-that-a-treasury-secretary-would-find-a/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [I was never looking to be popular. The trade-off for me in seeking other people's opinions is the potential to help that you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cuomo/i-was-never-looking-to-be-popular-the-trade-off-for-me-in-seeking/) [Chris Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cuomo/) > [There are always potential side effects for every vaccine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-are-always-potential-side-effects-for-every-vaccine/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) [Browse all 1,793 Potential quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-something-larger-than-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Potential" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-something-larger-than-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/barack-obama-17_realizing_it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-s_1005928.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” — Barack Obama", "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": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's only when you hitch your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-something-larger-than-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-only-when-you-hitch-your-wagon-to-something-larger-than-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```