--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are like sticks of dynamite. The…" description: "\"People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.\" — Mac Anderson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg" --- # People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the… ![“People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.” quote by Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg) > “People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.” [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People hold inner power like dynamite; action only occurs when the inner spark is ignited **In simple terms:** Potential energy needs a trigger to become action Key Takeaway Motivate inner drive to ignite action Themes potential energy action Mood inspirational cautious Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - personal goals - team projects - social movements Key Concepts inner power motivation trigger Questions to Reflect On - What is your personal fuse? - How can you safely ignite your potential? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if fuse is lit too quickly ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [In our language rhyme is a barrel. A barrel of dynamite. The line is a fuse. The line smoulders to the end and explodes;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/in-our-language-rhyme-is-a-barrel-a-barrel-of-dynamite-the-line-is-a/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [In the 1950s in Columbia, South Carolina, it was considered OK for kids to play with weird things. We could go to the hardware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kary-mullis/in-the-1950s-in-columbia-south-carolina-it-was-considered-ok-for-kids/) [Kary Mullis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kary-mullis/) > [I don't have big muscles. I'm not tall. I have power inside. I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-halep/i-don-t-have-big-muscles-i-m-not-tall-i-have-power-inside-i-fight/) [Simona Halep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-halep/) > [It is not enough just to open the door to the rooms of power. We have to get inside and rearrange the furniture!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-mongella/it-is-not-enough-just-to-open-the-door-to-the-rooms-of-power-we-have/) Gertrude Mongella > [The day I leave the power, inside my pockets will only be dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-nio-de-oliveira-salazar/the-day-i-leave-the-power-inside-my-pockets-will-only-be-dust/) [Antonio de Oliveira Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-nio-de-oliveira-salazar/) > [I have power inside. I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-halep/i-have-power-inside-i-fight/) [Simona Halep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-halep/) > [Nothing outside you has any power inside you unless you give it that power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakare/nothing-outside-you-has-any-power-inside-you-unless-you-give-it-that/) [Bakare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakare/) > [Artists must literally go into a zone of intense seeing so the subjective and objective almost fuse together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burton-silverman/artists-must-literally-go-into-a-zone-of-intense-seeing-so-the/) [Burton Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burton-silverman/) > [The force that drives the green fuse, as Dylan Thomas said, cannot be understood. So self-discovery is to accept your daily meditation, to observe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-force-that-drives-the-green-fuse-as-dylan-thomas-said-cannot-be/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Learning is not to be tacked to the mind, but we must fuse and blend them together, not merely giving the mind a slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/learning-is-not-to-be-tacked-to-the-mind-but-we-must-fuse-and-blend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [You and your horse. His strength and beauty. Your knowledge and patience and determination and understanding and love. That's what fuses the two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-dickens/you-and-your-horse-his-strength-and-beauty-your-knowledge-and/) [Monica Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-dickens/) > [Every forward step achieved by man has been due to the adventurous attitude. This attitude inspires dissatisfaction with the world as it is; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/every-forward-step-achieved-by-man-has-been-due-to-the-adventurous/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Working on television is like being shot out of a cannon. They cram you all up with rehearsals, then someone lights a fuse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/working-on-television-is-like-being-shot-out-of-a-cannon-they-cram/) [Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/) > [When your Super Bowl guests arrive, they should find a mound of potato chips large enough to conceal a pony sitting in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/when-your-super-bowl-guests-arrive-they-should-find-a-mound-of-potato/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) ## More by Mac Anderson > [Attitudes truly are contagious, and from time to time we need to ask ourselves, 'Is mine worth catching?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/attitudes-truly-are-contagious-and-from-time-to-time-we-need-to-ask/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [Passion--it's the driving force that you just can't ignore. It's what will make your new adventure seem more like fun, than work. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/passion-it-s-the-driving-force-that-you-just-can-t-ignore-it-s-what/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [In order to accomplish more than you ever have before, you must do more than you have ever done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/in-order-to-accomplish-more-than-you-ever-have-before-you-must-do/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [What happens when you believe something with all your heart? Belief fuels enthusiasm, and determined enthusiasm explodes into passion. It fires our souls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/what-happens-when-you-believe-something-with-all-your-heart-belief/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [Focus is not a 'business only' thing. Each person has only twenty-four hours per day, and how we spend those hours shows what's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/focus-is-not-a-business-only-thing-each-person-has-only-twenty-four/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [Never forget, organizational values start and end with you, the leader. Whether your example is good or bad, expect most employees to follow your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/never-forget-organizational-values-start-and-end-with-you-the-leader/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [I highly recommend setting aside pockets of time during each day for solitude. You might have only five or ten minutes, but be alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/i-highly-recommend-setting-aside-pockets-of-time-during-each-day-for/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [Dream big dreams, but never forget that realistic short-term goals are the keys to your success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/dream-big-dreams-but-never-forget-that-realistic-short-term-goals-are/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [The difference is that raving fans, unlike satisfied customers, become part of your sales force. They tell friends, family and co-workers about your services…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/the-difference-is-that-raving-fans-unlike-satisfied-customers-become/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [One of the most wonderful things about having a positive attitude is the number of people it touches, many times in ways you'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/one-of-the-most-wonderful-things-about-having-a-positive-attitude-is/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [Belief fuels passion, and passion rarely fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/belief-fuels-passion-and-passion-rarely-fails/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/by-the-choices-we-make-by-the-attitudes-we-exhibit-we-are-influencing/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [An individual's yearning to reach outside his life is a seed of greatness waiting for a stream of inspiration. Carving that stream to people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/an-individual-s-yearning-to-reach-outside-his-life-is-a-seed-of/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [You can't fake passion. It is the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/you-can-t-fake-passion-it-is-the-fuel-that-drives-any-dream-and-makes/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [The only way to build a good company is one satisfied customer at a time. However, to build a great company, we must add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/the-only-way-to-build-a-good-company-is-one-satisfied-customer-at-a/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) [Explore all 32 Mac Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [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 > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [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/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mac Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-power-is-on-the-inside-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-power-is-on-the-inside-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/mac-anderson-19705_achievement_people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-p_210460.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.” — Mac Anderson", "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": "Mac Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People are like sticks of dynamite....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-power-is-on-the-inside-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-power-is-on-the-inside-but/#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 } } ] } ```