--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever success I have achieved…" description: "\"Whatever success I have achieved, whatever positions of leadership I have held have depended less on Ivy League degrees or SAT scores or GPAs and have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/barack-obama-17_able_whatever-success-i-have-achieved-whateve_2274772.jpg" --- # Whatever success I have achieved, whatever positions of… ![“Whatever success I have achieved, whatever positions of leadership I have held have depended less on Ivy League degrees or SAT scores or GPAs and have instead been due to that sense of connection and empathy, the special obligation I felt as a black man like you to help those who need it most…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/barack-obama-17_able_whatever-success-i-have-achieved-whateve_2274772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/barack-obama-17_able_whatever-success-i-have-achieved-whateve_2274772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/barack-obama-17_able_whatever-success-i-have-achieved-whateve_2274772.jpg) > “Whatever success I have achieved, whatever positions of leadership I have held have depended less on Ivy League degrees or SAT scores or GPAs and have instead been due to that sense of connection and empathy, the special obligation I felt as a black man like you to help those who need it most, people who didn't have the opportunities that I had because there, but for the grace of God go I. I might have been in their shoes. I might have been in prison. I might have been unemployed. I might not have been able to support a family. And that motivates me.” [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. Leadership depends more on empathy and connection than academic credentials, driving a duty to help the disadvantaged. **In simple terms:** Empathy matters more than degrees. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy to lead. Themes leadership empathy social responsibility Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - mentoring - community service - policy making - nonprofit work Key Concepts social justice privilege altruism Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance empathy with competence? - What structures ensure meritocracy alongside compassion? A Different Perspective May overlook expertise needed for complex tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Connection Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection-empathy-979323/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Didn Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-opportunities-1683624/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Gpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gpa-75317/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Grace of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-of-god/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Ivy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivy/) [Ivy league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivy-league/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Might have been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might-have-been/) [Motivates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivates/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Obligation Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation-felt-5223520/) [Opportunities Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities-grace-1998998/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Sat scores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat-scores/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) ## Related quotes > [“(...) discernment asks that we constantly be open, both to God's gentle nudges and to the many opportunities for grace that are constantly being presented.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wilkes/discernment-asks-that-we-constantly-be-open-both-to-god-s-gentle/) [Paul Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wilkes/) > [“In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austin/in-such-cases-as-this-it-is-i-believe-the-established-mode-to-express/) [Jane Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austin/) > [You have to have some connection, empathy, or chemistry with the person you're playing and playing with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-grant/you-have-to-have-some-connection-empathy-or-chemistry-with-the-person/) [Richard E. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-grant/) > [Once you've created a connection of empathy, rational arguments can play a supportive role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/once-you-ve-created-a-connection-of-empathy-rational-arguments-can/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [My parents didn't have the opportunities that my wife and I have now, from a quality of life standpoint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-fisher/my-parents-didn-t-have-the-opportunities-that-my-wife-and-i-have-now/) [Derek Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-fisher/) > [There was a time when I just didn't have the opportunities, which meant going without things in my life - whether it was clothes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/there-was-a-time-when-i-just-didn-t-have-the-opportunities-which/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [My mum came from nothing and didn't have many opportunities in her youth, and she blames a lot of her social inadequacies on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/my-mum-came-from-nothing-and-didn-t-have-many-opportunities-in-her/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [Arsenal gave me the opportunity to come to Europe when I was 17. I didn't have as many opportunities as I expected and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-vela/arsenal-gave-me-the-opportunity-to-come-to-europe-when-i-was-17-i/) [Carlos Vela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-vela/) > [I graduated from college with a 3.92 GPA with a degree in computer programming and a BFA in fine arts and animation. My first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwoww/i-graduated-from-college-with-a-3-92-gpa-with-a-degree-in-computer-2/) [JWoww](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwoww/) > [After your first job, is anyone asking you what your GPA was? No, they don't care. They ask you: Are you a good leader?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/after-your-first-job-is-anyone-asking-you-what-your-gpa-was-no-they/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Every new thing upsets people. We all know someone that has a teenage kid who sits in the room and the television is on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-saffo/every-new-thing-upsets-people-we-all-know-someone-that-has-a-teenage/) [Paul Saffo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-saffo/) > [I enrolled at a local college, but this time paid attention to myself - took only courses that really interested me, even if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-todd-rose/i-enrolled-at-a-local-college-but-this-time-paid-attention-to-myself/) [L. Todd Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-todd-rose/) > [It's never been about football, but about becoming the best and fullest person I could be. And to think that I went from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-oher/it-s-never-been-about-football-but-about-becoming-the-best-and/) [Michael Oher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-oher/) > [Growing up in rural Utah had a lot of benefits, but in an environment that prized conformity, fit wasn't one of them. I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-todd-rose/growing-up-in-rural-utah-had-a-lot-of-benefits-but-in-an-environment/) [L. Todd Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-todd-rose/) > [The median GPA and LSAT percentile for students of the country's elite law schools were 3.8 and 98 respectively. At the time fewer than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lino-graglia/the-median-gpa-and-lsat-percentile-for-students-of-the-country-s/) [Lino Graglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lino-graglia/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever success I have achieved, whatever positions of leadership I have held have depended less on Ivy League degrees or SAT scores or GPAs and have instead been due to that sense of connection and empathy, the special obligation I felt as a black man like you to help those who need it most, people who didn't have the opportunities that I had because there, but for the grace of God go I. 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