--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The potential within each of us is…" description: "\"“The potential within each of us is massive. And it is petrifying to think that a power that large and that wonderful can instantly fall to something a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd1/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_abilities_the-potential-within-each-of-us-is-massi_3031781.jpg" --- # The potential within each of us is massive. And it is… ![“The potential within each of us is massive. And it is petrifying to think that a power that large and that wonderful can instantly fall to something as small and anemic as greed. Yet, what’s more frightening is not that we let that happen, but that we often invite that to happen.” quote by Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd1/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_abilities_the-potential-within-each-of-us-is-massi_3031781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd1/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_abilities_the-potential-within-each-of-us-is-massi_3031781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd1/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_abilities_the-potential-within-each-of-us-is-massi_3031781.jpg) > ““The potential within each of us is massive. And it is petrifying to think that a power that large and that wonderful can instantly fall to something as small and anemic as greed. Yet, what’s more frightening is not that we let that happen, but that we often invite that to happen.”” [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human potential is vast but can be corrupted by greed; the real danger is inviting that corruption. **In simple terms:** Great potential can be ruined by greed. Key Takeaway Guard against greed to protect potential. Themes potential greed corruption Mood cautious inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business leadership - personal development - social activism Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives your ambition? - How can you prevent greed from influencing you? A Different Perspective Greed may be rationalized in competitive contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents/) ## Related quotes > [“Much like people, the seed always contained the tree. It just needed water and soil to release it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/much-like-people-the-seed-always-contained-the-tree-it-just-needed/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Happiness like this is frightening…they only let you be this happy if they're preparing to take something away from you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/happiness-like-this-is-frightening-they-only-let-you-be-this-happy-if/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“I'm so afraid. Because I'm so profoundly happy. Happiness like this is frightening...They only let you this happy if they're preparing to take something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-m-so-afraid-because-i-m-so-profoundly-happy-happiness-like-this-is/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“If you want to be prosperous begin to sow into your abilities, gifting’s, talents, self-development and self-education”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-want-to-be-prosperous-begin-to-sow-into-your-abilities-gifting/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Believe in yourself, your abilities and your own potential. Never let self-doubt hold you captive. You are worthy of all that you dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/believe-in-yourself-your-abilities-and-your-own-potential-never-let/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“You are amazing person with unique talents. Have faith in your abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-amazing-person-with-unique-talents-have-faith-in-your/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Dr. Watson's summary list of Sherlock Holmes's strengths and weaknesses: "1. Knowledge of Literature: Nil. 2. Knowledge of Philosophy: Nil. 3. Knowledge of Astronomy:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/dr-watson-s-summary-list-of-sherlock-holmes-s-strengths-and/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“The greatest ability is the ability to develop new abilities in the face of changing conditions!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-greatest-ability-is-the-ability-to-develop-new-abilities-in-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You contain within yourself a unique combination of talents and abilities which, properly identified and applied, will enable you to achieve virtually any goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/you-contain-within-yourself-a-unique-combination-of-talents-and/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Who a person is will ultimately determine if their brains, talents, competencies, energy, effort, deal-making abilities, and opportunities will succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/who-a-person-is-will-ultimately-determine-if-their-brains-talents/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“I don’t necessarily sit around inviting life to knock me down, but when it does I don’t wait around for an invitation to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-don-t-necessarily-sit-around-inviting-life-to-knock-me-down-but/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“It’s not that I’ve been invited to the hole I’m standing in. It’s that I accepted the invitation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-s-not-that-i-ve-been-invited-to-the-hole-i-m-standing-in-it-s-that/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“My goals exceed the reach of my energies, but my God exceeds the reach of my goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/my-goals-exceed-the-reach-of-my-energies-but-my-god-exceeds-the-reach/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“It is in building the best of our abilities that we ultimately destroy the worst of our liabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-in-building-the-best-of-our-abilities-that-we-ultimately/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The nature of our lives rarely reflects the depth of our abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-nature-of-our-lives-rarely-reflects-the-depth-of-our-abilities/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Craig D. Lounsbrough > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I’m not trying to save you from yourself. I’m trying to help you save yourself from yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-not-trying-to-save-you-from-yourself-i-m-trying-to-help-you-save/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The service of self terminates at our own death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-service-of-self-terminates-at-our-own-death/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“It’s better to die for what’s right than live for what’s wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-s-better-to-die-for-what-s-right-than-live-for-what-s-wrong/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Do not be fooled. Passive prayers hastily tossed out as some second-thought appeasement at those junctures when life’s more pressing duties benevolently grant us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/do-not-be-fooled-passive-prayers-hastily-tossed-out-as-some-second/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The measure of who you are will always exceed measurement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-measure-of-who-you-are-will-always-exceed-measurement/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Darkness is the absence of light. Therefore, darkness is always fleeing from where light is and scurrying off to where it is not. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/darkness-is-the-absence-of-light-therefore-darkness-is-always-fleeing/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Explore all 754 Craig D. Lounsbrough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More Abilities quotes > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I fight in the ring on my natural abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-fight-in-the-ring-on-my-natural-abilities/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“He finally found someone like him. Someone who shared his abilities, someone who understood what he had to go through every day. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaxon-reed/he-finally-found-someone-like-him-someone-who-shared-his-abilities/) Jaxon Reed > [“I come from a land afar and a land up high. My abilities are only eclipsed by my excellent turn of phrase and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-william-shaw/i-come-from-a-land-afar-and-a-land-up-high-my-abilities-are-only/) Thomas William Shaw > [As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-advance-in-life-we-learn-the-limits-of-our-abilities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. The relevant abilities of intellect are thought, imagination (the cogitative and creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-s-hacker/the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-beings-are-abilities-of-intellect/) P. M. S. Hacker > [I want to use the abilities that God has given me to do my job well and support my crewmates and mission and NASA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-glover/i-want-to-use-the-abilities-that-god-has-given-me-to-do-my-job-well/) [Victor J. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-glover/) > [“One should try to live with his abilities rather than his deprivals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/one-should-try-to-live-with-his-abilities-rather-than-his-deprivals/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-in-yourself-and-have-faith-in-your-abilities/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [No matter our age, our circumstances, or abilities... Each one of us can create something remarkable with our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/no-matter-our-age-our-circumstances-or-abilities-each-one-of-us-can/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“Capability can handle challenges, it doesn't accept charity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/capability-can-handle-challenges-it-doesn-t-accept-charity/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/when-i-hire-actors-i-believe-in-their-abilities/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [“Earl "The Goat" Manigault was probably the greatest basketball player of all time, but Michael Jordan is universally regarded as the best ever. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/earl-the-goat-manigault-was-probably-the-greatest-basketball-player/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [A hero is defined by what he or she can do, not by what he or she cannot do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-throop/a-hero-is-defined-by-what-he-or-she-can-do-not-by-what-he-or-she/) Damon Throop > [“There are different kinds of birds and there are different situations and places to find these birds. Some of these birds choose to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/there-are-different-kinds-of-birds-and-there-are-different-situations/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) [Browse all 259 Abilities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The potential within each of us is massive. 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