--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we want for others doesn't work…" description: "\"“What we want for others doesn't work unless they want it for themselves.”\" — Bryant McGill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg" --- # What we want for others doesn't work unless they want it… ![“What we want for others doesn't work unless they want it for themselves.” quote by Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg) > ““What we want for others doesn't work unless they want it for themselves.”” [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Help others only works if they desire it themselves. **In simple terms:** Aid works when the recipient wants it. Key Takeaway Encourage self‑motivation. Themes help autonomy motivation relationships Mood supportive thoughtful Type psychological practical When to use this quote - coaching - mentoring - personal development Key Concepts self‑determination theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster desire in others? - When is external help appropriate? A Different Perspective People may lack desire despite help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doesn Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-work/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Unless Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-want-298600/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-doesn/) [Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Work Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-unless-357317/) ## Related quotes > [“The life you want doesn't want you — until you are worthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-life-you-want-doesn-t-want-you-until-you-are-worthy/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Faith doesn't work if you don't even believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/faith-doesn-t-work-if-you-don-t-even-believe-it/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [No trade will be made unless they want the thing more than they want their money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-h-williams/no-trade-will-be-made-unless-they-want-the-thing-more-than-they-want/) [Roy H. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-h-williams/) > [Don't come into my life unless you want to stay!-\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-n-thug/don-t-come-into-my-life-unless-you-want-to-stay/) [M!N!\_ThuG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-n-thug/) > [You don't go into politics unless you want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/you-don-t-go-into-politics-unless-you-want-to-win/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“No one says goodbye unless they want to see you again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-says-goodbye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I’m not going to push you. But I’m not going anywhere, either. Unless you want me gone. But even then, you should know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronwyn-green/i-m-not-going-to-push-you-but-i-m-not-going-anywhere-either-unless/) [Bronwyn Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronwyn-green/) > [“You may come in. I won’t bite,” he said with a wry grin. He watched her shut the door behind her and walk further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-storm/you-may-come-in-i-won-t-bite-he-said-with-a-wry-grin-he-watched-her/) [Franca Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-storm/) > [Christmas is never over,unless you want it to be... 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Then I won’t, and I can drive you home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-michael/unless-you-want-to-drink-then-i-won-t-and-i-can-drive-you-home/) [Ted Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-michael/) > [Never put lettering in your photos unless you want it read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/never-put-lettering-in-your-photos-unless-you-want-it-read/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [“Never go to another woman about your woman. Not unless you want an insidious form of advice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/never-go-to-another-woman-about-your-woman-not-unless-you-want-an/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) ## More by Bryant McGill > [“Witnessing a selfless act brings tears to remind us how we should be treating others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witnessing-a-selfless-act-brings-tears-to-remind-us-how-we-should-be/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts and listen to your inner-voice — it's trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-have-permission-to-walk-away-from-anything-that-doesn-t-feel/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“You cannot change another person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-cannot-change-another-person-s-mind-or-educate-them-this-they/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The public good must come before private interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-public-good-must-come-before-private-interests/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“We must remember that nature is the supreme cradle of life, and must be protected and treated with the highest respect and care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-remember-that-nature-is-the-supreme-cradle-of-life-and-must/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Even discomfort or pain delivers awareness of life, and an opportunity for gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-discomfort-or-pain-delivers-awareness-of-life-and-an-opportunity/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It is essential that you follow your own idea of passion, even if to others it looks like suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/it-is-essential-that-you-follow-your-own-idea-of-passion-even-if-to/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Joy is a practice, not an involuntary state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/joy-is-a-practice-not-an-involuntary-state/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) [Explore all 1,286 Bryant McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) ## More Growth quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) [Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What we want for others doesn't work unless they want it for themselves.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bryant McGill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unless-they-want-it-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Growth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unless-they-want-it-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/bryant-mcgill-108_growth_what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unl_2831322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we want for others doesn't work unless they want it for themselves.” — Bryant McGill", "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": "Bryant McGill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What we want for others doesn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unless-they-want-it-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/what-we-want-for-others-doesn-t-work-unless-they-want-it-for/#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 } } ] } ```