--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real potential of electricity lies…" description: "\"The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development\" — Christopher Flavin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png" --- # The real potential of electricity lies not in providing… ![“The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development” quote by Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png) > “The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development” [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Electricity should be leveraged to drive economic growth rather than just providing basic services. **In simple terms:** Use power to boost economies long not just utilities. Key Takeaway Invest in electricity for development. Themes economics energy development Mood analytical forward‑looking Type policy strategic When to use this quote - rural electrification - industrial zones - renewable projects - urban planning Key Concepts sustainable development infrastructure policy innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can electricity spur long‑term growth? - What safeguards ensure equitable benefits? A Different Perspective Economic benefits may be uneven; infrastructure costs high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amenities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amenities/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-development/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Electricity Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity-lies-4207256/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Potential Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential-electricity-4207255/) [Providing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providing/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-potential-884055/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [I had real potential. But my goal was to be...adequate. I didn't want to be an extraordinary receptionist, because I didn't ever want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/i-had-real-potential-but-my-goal-was-to-be-adequate-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [Sometimes, it is an external force that makes you realize your real potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/sometimes-it-is-an-external-force-that-makes-you-realize-your-real/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [I'm going to show everyone my real potential and I know I have the potential to be the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/i-m-going-to-show-everyone-my-real-potential-and-i-know-i-have-the/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) > [I think the Orioles know I have real potential in baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-think-the-orioles-know-i-have-real-potential-in-baseball/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [Most human beings only scratch the surface of their real potential. They have no idea what they're capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/most-human-beings-only-scratch-the-surface-of-their-real-potential/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Humanity has only scratched the surface of its real potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/humanity-has-only-scratched-the-surface-of-its-real-potential/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. Ninety percent of all U.S. businesses are family owned or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/mom-pop-stores-are-not-about-something-small-they-are-about-something/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [power... Military success is not sufficient to win: economic development, institution-building and the rule of law, promoting internal reconciliation, good governance, providing basic services…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/power-military-success-is-not-sufficient-to-win-economic-development/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [Improved energy productivity and renewable energy are both available in abundance—and new policies and technologies are rapidly making them more economically competitive with fossil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/improved-energy-productivity-and-renewable-energy-are-both-available/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [The definitions of humanism are many, but let us here take it to be the attitude of those men who think it an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-definitions-of-humanism-are-many-but-let-us-here-take-it-to-be/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/no-discovery-of-mine-has-made-or-is-likely-to-make-directly-or/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) [T.I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-i/) ## More by Christopher Flavin > [Building a world where we meet our own needs without denying future generations a healthy society is not impossible, as some would assert. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/building-a-world-where-we-meet-our-own-needs-without-denying-future/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [The sunlight ... that strikes Earth’s land surface in two hours is equivalent to total human energy use in a year. While much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-sunlight-that-strikes-earth-s-land-surface-in-two-hours-is/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [The challenge now is to renovate the baroque structure that the Kyoto Plan has become—or else scrap it and get ready to start all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-challenge-now-is-to-renovate-the-baroque-structure-that-the-kyoto/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [Sometimes electricity provides unexpected benefits. In a remote village in China's Fujian province in which young men have traditionally had a hard time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/sometimes-electricity-provides-unexpected-benefits-in-a-remote/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [Urgency and vision are the twin pillars on which humanity's hope now hangs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/urgency-and-vision-are-the-twin-pillars-on-which-humanity-s-hope-now/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [Improved energy productivity and renewable energy are both available in abundance—and new policies and technologies are rapidly making them more economically competitive with fossil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/improved-energy-productivity-and-renewable-energy-are-both-available/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [The bottom of the oil barrel is now visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-bottom-of-the-oil-barrel-is-now-visible/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [Already, China's world-leading solar industry provides water heating for 35 million buildings, and India's pioneering use of rainwater harvesting brings clean water to tens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/already-china-s-world-leading-solar-industry-provides-water-heating/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [Renewable biofuels are meanwhile making inroads in the transportation fuels market and are beginning to have a measurable impact on demand for petroleum fuels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/renewable-biofuels-are-meanwhile-making-inroads-in-the-transportation/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [Within a few decades...the United States might get 30% of its electricity from sunshine...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/within-a-few-decades-the-united-states-might-get-30-of-its/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [The 1,230 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power generating capacity in place at the end of 2009 now constitutes just over 25 percent of total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-1-230-gigawatts-gw-of-renewable-power-generating-capacity-in/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) [Explore all 12 Christopher Flavin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) ## More Amenities quotes > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) [T.I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-i/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/no-discovery-of-mine-has-made-or-is-likely-to-make-directly-or/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [The definitions of humanism are many, but let us here take it to be the attitude of those men who think it an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-definitions-of-humanism-are-many-but-let-us-here-take-it-to-be/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [... if a person is to be unconventional, he must be amusing or he is intolerable: for, in the nature of the case, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/if-a-person-is-to-be-unconventional-he-must-be-amusing-or-he-is/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [Mammoth is an incredible community and world-class attraction, ... Were committed to creating a vibrant living experience that matches the natural, majestic beauty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puff-daddy/mammoth-is-an-incredible-community-and-world-class-attraction-were/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puff-daddy/) > [Low income is related to poorer housing, poorer diet, fewer social amenities, worse working conditions. (...) After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/low-income-is-related-to-poorer-housing-poorer-diet-fewer-social/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [The ergometer simulates the physical demands of rowing, packaging the pains with none of the amenities that make it worthwhile ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/the-ergometer-simulates-the-physical-demands-of-rowing-packaging-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [People talk about wanting amenities - downtown is the amenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/people-talk-about-wanting-amenities-downtown-is-the-amenity/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [How many roads must a developer walk down, before they accept the amenities package?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/how-many-roads-must-a-developer-walk-down-before-they-accept-the/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [There has never been just 'coach class' health care, but with these amenities you are seeing people get priorities according to your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-caplan/there-has-never-been-just-coach-class-health-care-but-with-these/) [Arthur Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-caplan/) > [I always say if the house I live in is comfortable, and I have all the amenities I need, then what more can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-always-say-if-the-house-i-live-in-is-comfortable-and-i-have-all-the/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [There's precious little to say between day and dark, Perhaps a few words on the implacable will Of time sailing like a magic barque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/there-s-precious-little-to-say-between-day-and-dark-perhaps-a-few/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) [Browse all 41 Amenities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amenities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Flavin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amenities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-flavin-37976_amenities_the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-n_491744.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term…” — Christopher Flavin", "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": "Christopher Flavin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real potential of electricity lies...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/#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 } } ] } ```