--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are millions of people out there…" description: "\"There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jim-abbott-20375_ability_there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-i_751606.jpg" --- # There are millions of people out there ignoring… ![“There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but do them just as well. I've learned that it's not the disability that defines you, it's how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you…” quote by Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jim-abbott-20375_ability_there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-i_751606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jim-abbott-20375_ability_there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-i_751606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jim-abbott-20375_ability_there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-i_751606.jpg) > “There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but do them just as well. I've learned that it's not the disability that defines you, it's how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with. And I've learned that we have an obligation to the abilities we DO have, not the disability.” [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from focusing on abilities and adapting strategies, not letting disability define identity. **In simple terms:** Focus on strengths, adapt, succeed. Key Takeaway Leverage strengths, adapt to challenges. Themes resilience adaptation ability empowerment Mood determined inspirational Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports competition - workplace - education - daily living - public speaking Key Concepts Neuroplasticity growth mindset inclusion Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe challenges as opportunities? - What support systems help you adapt? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on ability may overlook systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Disabilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabilities/) [Disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability/) [Feats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feats/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [It's not the disability that defines you; it's how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/it-s-not-the-disability-that-defines-you-it-s-how-you-deal-with-the/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [What you believe matters, however. It’s all anyone has to act on. And since what you do is who you are, your actions define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/what-you-believe-matters-however-it-s-all-anyone-has-to-act-on-and/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [The chances you take… the people you meet… the people you love...the faith that you have - that’s what’s going to define your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/the-chances-you-take-the-people-you-meet-the-people-you-love-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Henry, this isn't about us. I mean it is, but they don't define you by the button you wear. They define you by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-ford/henry-this-isn-t-about-us-i-mean-it-is-but-they-don-t-define-you-by/) [Jamie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-ford/) > [When you win, you don't examine it very much, except to congratulate yourself. You easily, and wrongly, assume it has something to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/when-you-win-you-don-t-examine-it-very-much-except-to-congratulate/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [what is joy without sorrow? what is success without failure? what is a win without a loss? what is health without illness? you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/what-is-joy-without-sorrow-what-is-success-without-failure-what-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Go without a coat when it's cold; find out what cold is. Go hungry; keep your existence lean. Wear away the fat, get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/go-without-a-coat-when-it-s-cold-find-out-what-cold-is-go-hungry-keep/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If you want to be an entrepreneur, it's not a job, it's a lifestyle. It defines you. Forget about vacations, about going home at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/if-you-want-to-be-an-entrepreneur-it-s-not-a-job-it-s-a-lifestyle-it/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [The logical upshot of liberalism's hatred of hypocrisy is that it is better for the liar to champion lying, the glutton to advocate gluttony,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/the-logical-upshot-of-liberalism-s-hatred-of-hypocrisy-is-that-it-is/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [I used to have a fake Louis Vuitton bag because I thought it meant something in life. But now I realize that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-used-to-have-a-fake-louis-vuitton-bag-because-i-thought-it-meant/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Choose your enemies carefully 'cause they will define you Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you They're not there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/choose-your-enemies-carefully-cause-they-will-define-you-make-them/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [My definition of courage is never letting anyone define you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-jameson/my-definition-of-courage-is-never-letting-anyone-define-you/) [Jenna Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-jameson/) > [I've had great success and I've had catastrophic failure. It's really how you handle the rough stuff that defines you, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/i-ve-had-great-success-and-i-ve-had-catastrophic-failure-it-s-really/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [I've always felt there were aspects of me that were monstrous, and you can either hide from it or confront it, embrace it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-always-felt-there-were-aspects-of-me-that-were-monstrous-and-you/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) ## More by Jim Abbott > [I still get a lot of letters from kids and parents who face different challenges and disabilities. I share some of the lessons that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-still-get-a-lot-of-letters-from-kids-and-parents-who-face-different/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I believe that challenges can push us beyond what we might otherwise be able to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-believe-that-challenges-can-push-us-beyond-what-we-might-otherwise/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I benefited from tremendous encouragement as a kid. So many people reached out to me, helped me, and believed in me even when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-benefited-from-tremendous-encouragement-as-a-kid-so-many-people/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I had an incredible experience living in New York, playing for the Yankees, to go through all of the things I did, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-had-an-incredible-experience-living-in-new-york-playing-for-the/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [Find something you love, and go after it, with all of your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/find-something-you-love-and-go-after-it-with-all-of-your-heart/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I loved throwing a baseball. It is so important to find something in life you feel crazy about. Because you are so passionate you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-loved-throwing-a-baseball-it-is-so-important-to-find-something-in/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [My advice is that you go and do something that you are really driven to do. I loved to play baseball and, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/my-advice-is-that-you-go-and-do-something-that-you-are-really-driven/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I knew how far a little boy or girl could run with 50 words of reassurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-knew-how-far-a-little-boy-or-girl-could-run-with-50-words-of/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [What's cool about baseball is you don't have to see someone for years, but when you see them, you just hustle up and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/what-s-cool-about-baseball-is-you-don-t-have-to-see-someone-for-years/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [One of the beautiful things about baseball is the history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/one-of-the-beautiful-things-about-baseball-is-the-history/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I think you need optimism. I believe that's incredibly important that you be optimistic that you can do things different and still do them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-think-you-need-optimism-i-believe-that-s-incredibly-important-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I always wanted to be a shortstop so I could play more often!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-shortstop-so-i-could-play-more-often/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I want my career to be judged by what I did on the field. I appreciate the honors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-want-my-career-to-be-judged-by-what-i-did-on-the-field-i-appreciate/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) [Explore all 31 Jim Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. 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