--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Serving and attempting to inspire others…" description: "\"Serving and attempting to inspire others is a responsibility, not a choice.\" — Bill Courtney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg" --- # Serving and attempting to inspire others is a… ![“Serving and attempting to inspire others is a responsibility, not a choice.” quote by Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg) > “Serving and attempting to inspire others is a responsibility, not a choice.” [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inspiring others is a duty that comes with leadership, not an optional act. **In simple terms:** Inspiring others is a responsibility. Key Takeaway Embrace the duty to inspire. Themes leadership responsibility inspiration Mood thoughtful determined Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - team management - mentoring - public speaking - community building Key Concepts ethics social influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you inspire responsibly? - What responsibilities arise from influencing others? A Different Perspective Inspiration can be limited by personal capacity or resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Inspire others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire-others/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [What is an anarchist? One who, choosing, accepts the responsibility of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/what-is-an-anarchist-one-who-choosing-accepts-the-responsibility-of/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [With awareness come responsibility and choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/with-awareness-come-responsibility-and-choice/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [No one has the responsibility to be out to anyone but himself or herself. I made my choice a million years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-delaria/no-one-has-the-responsibility-to-be-out-to-anyone-but-himself-or/) [Lea DeLaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-delaria/) > [I've never been very cookie cutter. If I choose something different from the status quo, it's my responsibility and my choice to live my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ramirez/i-ve-never-been-very-cookie-cutter-if-i-choose-something-different/) [Sara Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ramirez/) > [As long as I take the responsibility of the choice, I have to make the choice that is as right as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/as-long-as-i-take-the-responsibility-of-the-choice-i-have-to-make-the/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Responsibility is the choice we make to respond with care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-visser/responsibility-is-the-choice-we-make-to-respond-with-care/) [Wayne Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-visser/) > [“In no case should we abandon responsibility for our own choice-making or give someone else's conception of what we are more weight than our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-sinetar/in-no-case-should-we-abandon-responsibility-for-our-own-choice-making/) [Marsha Sinetar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-sinetar/) > [Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/everybody-can-be-great-because-anybody-can-serve-you-don-t-have-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“A free spirit lives a free life, not bound by rules but guided by wonder, and in their wake they inspire others to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julieanne-o-connor/a-free-spirit-lives-a-free-life-not-bound-by-rules-but-guided-by/) [Julieanne O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julieanne-o-connor/) > [The greatest leader is not someone who is the only leader. The greatest leader is one who inspires others to be leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/the-greatest-leader-is-not-someone-who-is-the-only-leader-the/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [I want to inspire others - and you have to do something incredible to get anybody's attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hughes/i-want-to-inspire-others-and-you-have-to-do-something-incredible-to/) [Mike Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hughes/) > [I try to find, celebrate and teach leaders how to build platforms that will inspire others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-try-to-find-celebrate-and-teach-leaders-how-to-build-platforms-that/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Aim high. Inspire others to come with you. Equip them. Be ready for challenges. Stay your course!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aim-high-inspire-others-to-come-with-you-equip-them-be-ready-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Greatness is inspiring others to be their best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-poirot/greatness-is-inspiring-others-to-be-their-best/) [Ken Poirot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-poirot/) > [A lot of times we look at the whole world and think, 'it's so daunting, how can we change the whole world?' and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/a-lot-of-times-we-look-at-the-whole-world-and-think-it-s-so-daunting/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) ## More by Bill Courtney > [You can’t be a successful leader or mentor until you have served. You can’t serve until you have stepped out of your comfort zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/you-can-t-be-a-successful-leader-or-mentor-until-you-have-served-you/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [“We have the ability to survive anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/we-have-the-ability-to-survive-anything/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [“It is never too late to show true character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/it-is-never-too-late-to-show-true-character/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Players win games, and coaches win players,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/players-win-games-and-coaches-win-players/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [In the marathon of life, there is no finish line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/in-the-marathon-of-life-there-is-no-finish-line/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Coaching doesn’t start with X’s and O’s. It starts with believing that players win games and coaches win players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/coaching-doesn-t-start-with-x-s-and-o-s-it-starts-with-believing-that/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [The measure of a man’s character is not determined by how he handles his wins, but how he handles his failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/the-measure-of-a-man-s-character-is-not-determined-by-how-he-handles/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [A leader or mentor gives credit to others when things go right, and accepts the blame when things go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/a-leader-or-mentor-gives-credit-to-others-when-things-go-right-and/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Only by entering new and unfamiliar worlds can a person change society as well as self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/only-by-entering-new-and-unfamiliar-worlds-can-a-person-change/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [There is one possession that can never be taken away as long as you will not allow it to be taken, and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/there-is-one-possession-that-can-never-be-taken-away-as-long-as-you/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [No matter how many good deeds we preform, they aren’t the ticket to earning God’s favor. God graces us in spite of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/no-matter-how-many-good-deeds-we-preform-they-aren-t-the-ticket-to/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Many men beg for a job but have no clue what hard work really means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/many-men-beg-for-a-job-but-have-no-clue-what-hard-work-really-means/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [What builds character? It's a commitment to integrity, hard work, honor and keeping your word. All of that comes straight out of the Sigma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/what-builds-character-it-s-a-commitment-to-integrity-hard-work-honor/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [The true measure of a person’s character is how one handles one’s failures, not successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/the-true-measure-of-a-person-s-character-is-how-one-handles-one-s/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Internal character: how you behave when no one is watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/internal-character-how-you-behave-when-no-one-is-watching/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) [Explore all 34 Bill Courtney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Serving and attempting to inspire others is a responsibility, not a choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Courtney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others-is-a-responsibility-not-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attempting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others-is-a-responsibility-not-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/bill-courtney-18675_attempting_serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others_2264128.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Serving and attempting to inspire others is a responsibility, not a choice.” — Bill Courtney", "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": "Bill Courtney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Serving and attempting to inspire others...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others-is-a-responsibility-not-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/serving-and-attempting-to-inspire-others-is-a-responsibility-not-a/#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 } } ] } ```