--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only by giving people the tools to…" description: "\"It is only by giving people the tools to empower themselves will they be able to achieve their potential.\" — Esther McVey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg" --- # It is only by giving people the tools to empower… ![“It is only by giving people the tools to empower themselves will they be able to achieve their potential.” quote by Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg) > “It is only by giving people the tools to empower themselves will they be able to achieve their potential.” [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Providing individuals with resources and autonomy enables them to reach their full capabilities. **In simple terms:** Give people tools, they unlock potential. Key Takeaway Invest in education and skill‑building. Themes empowerment potential education Mood inspired optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - workplace training - community programs - personal development - entrepreneurship Key Concepts self‑efficacy capacity building Questions to Reflect On - What tools are most lacking in your community? - How can you support others' self‑growth? A Different Perspective Access alone may not overcome systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [We've been finding that when you empower engineers, scientists, and coders, they respond by creating new tools to empower physicians, patients, and parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-sebelius/we-ve-been-finding-that-when-you-empower-engineers-scientists-and/) [Kathleen Sebelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-sebelius/) > [Even the simplest tools can empower people to do great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/even-the-simplest-tools-can-empower-people-to-do-great-things/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [I feel I have to play a role to help Jacksonville achieve big things, to achieve its potential. There is opportunity here, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-khan/i-feel-i-have-to-play-a-role-to-help-jacksonville-achieve-big-things/) [Shahid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-khan/) > [Without Nambiar sir's guidance I would not have been able to achieve what I did for the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-usha/without-nambiar-sir-s-guidance-i-would-not-have-been-able-to-achieve/) [P. T. Usha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-usha/) > [I am living proof that if you work hard enough, you will be able to achieve anything and I take a lot of pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-kingston/i-am-living-proof-that-if-you-work-hard-enough-you-will-be-able-to/) [Kofi Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-kingston/) > [I want to become one of the greatest managers that has ever lived. Why not? If it doesn't happen, then I've given everything, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-bellamy/i-want-to-become-one-of-the-greatest-managers-that-has-ever-lived-why/) [Craig Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-bellamy/) > [I say, 'If I'm able to go out there and achieve a dream, then anybody can do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-du-toit/i-say-if-i-m-able-to-go-out-there-and-achieve-a-dream-then-anybody/) [Natalie du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-du-toit/) > [I'm able to be able to achieve certain things that others aren't - whether it's a reaction time or the idea of a coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-knight/i-m-able-to-be-able-to-achieve-certain-things-that-others-aren-t/) [Hilary Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-knight/) > [You have to work really hard to be able to achieve what you want to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-saraf/you-have-to-work-really-hard-to-be-able-to-achieve-what-you-want-to/) [Rohit Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-saraf/) > [If I'm able to go out there and achieve a dream, then anybody can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-du-toit/if-i-m-able-to-go-out-there-and-achieve-a-dream-then-anybody-can-do-it/) [Natalie du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-du-toit/) > [To some extent, we are all labeled by what we're able to achieve. But more importantly, we are defined by what we attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tinley/to-some-extent-we-are-all-labeled-by-what-we-re-able-to-achieve-but/) Scott Tinley > [There is no manual on how to run a global city like London. But I'm hugely proud of what we've been able to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/there-is-no-manual-on-how-to-run-a-global-city-like-london-but-i-m/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [I would like to see anyone be able to achieve their dreams, and that's what this organization does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-brin/i-would-like-to-see-anyone-be-able-to-achieve-their-dreams-and-that-s/) [Sergey Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-brin/) > [I think people are always able to achieve more than they think they can. While that’s cliche, I don’t know if managers think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-levie/i-think-people-are-always-able-to-achieve-more-than-they-think-they/) [Aaron Levie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-levie/) > [Empathy is really important.. Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/empathy-is-really-important-only-when-our-clever-brain-and-our-human/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) ## More by Esther McVey > [Where I come from, from a very different point of view, it's a Labour heartland, it's a trade union heartland, and I'll have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/where-i-come-from-from-a-very-different-point-of-view-it-s-a-labour/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [We all have dreams, whether it be about success in our careers, improving our relationship with family and friends, or sorting out our finances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/we-all-have-dreams-whether-it-be-about-success-in-our-careers/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [That is what we should be doing: liberating everyone's potential, whether it's a self-made individual, whether it's someone taking the university route, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/that-is-what-we-should-be-doing-liberating-everyone-s-potential/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [Labour parades compassion for the poor, but it practised casual cruelty by consigning millions to benefits. Yet there's nothing compassionate about being trapped on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/labour-parades-compassion-for-the-poor-but-it-practised-casual/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [I've had other friends who had such a burning desire to have children: they have this biological ticking clock. I don't know what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/i-ve-had-other-friends-who-had-such-a-burning-desire-to-have-children/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [That's what you've got to be to be an MP: a problem solver. How can I help you? How can I engage? What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/that-s-what-you-ve-got-to-be-to-be-an-mp-a-problem-solver-how-can-i/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [Politicians themselves, every one of us, has a responsibility to make sure that we send out a message that it is a good place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/politicians-themselves-every-one-of-us-has-a-responsibility-to-make/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [We never have been closed to immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/we-never-have-been-closed-to-immigration/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [People shouldn't have to lose their accents to get a fair crack at the whip at a job or move up within a sector…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/people-shouldn-t-have-to-lose-their-accents-to-get-a-fair-crack-at/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [One of my best friends was the first U.K. female fighter pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/one-of-my-best-friends-was-the-first-u-k-female-fighter-pilot/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [My friends have always known there was this more serious side to me, and all my life, I've had Conservative values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/my-friends-have-always-known-there-was-this-more-serious-side-to-me/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [First and foremost, we have to ensure that we have to get our own kids ready for work so that employers want to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/first-and-foremost-we-have-to-ensure-that-we-have-to-get-our-own-kids/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [Universal Credit claimants who refuse to accept a zero hours contract job offer, without good reason, can be subject to a sanction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/universal-credit-claimants-who-refuse-to-accept-a-zero-hours-contract/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [Politics is all about trust. Trust is like the soul: once gone, it never returns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/politics-is-all-about-trust-trust-is-like-the-soul-once-gone-it-never/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [I guess, as a young girl growing up in Liverpool in the '80s, when unemployment was high, my ideal job would have been to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/i-guess-as-a-young-girl-growing-up-in-liverpool-in-the-80s-when/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) [Explore all 80 Esther McVey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [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/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is only by giving people the tools to empower themselves will they be able to achieve their potential.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Esther McVey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to-empower-themselves-will-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achieve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to-empower-themselves-will-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/esther-mcvey-8493_achieve_it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to_1898007.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is only by giving people the tools to empower themselves will they be able to achieve their potential.” — Esther McVey", "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": "Esther McVey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is only by giving people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to-empower-themselves-will-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/it-is-only-by-giving-people-the-tools-to-empower-themselves-will-they/#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 } } ] } ```