---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing in your background that…"
description: "\"There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can't achieve what others can achieve. You are the master of your own f..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg"
---

#  There is nothing in your background that inherently holds…

![“There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can't achieve what others can achieve. You are the master of your own fate, and if you work hard, you can do what you want.” quote by Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg)

> “There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can't achieve what others can achieve. You are the master of your own fate, and if you work hard, you can do what you want.”

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Your background does not determine your future; effort and agency shape success.

**In simple terms:** Background isn’t destiny; hard work matters.

Key Takeaway

Take charge and work hard.

Themes

self‑efficacy determination social mobility

Mood

determined inspirational

Type

motivational empowering

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- education
- entrepreneurship
- personal development

Key Concepts

agency effort meritocracy

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you control to improve your chances?
- How do you support others facing structural obstacles?

A Different Perspective

Hard work alone may not overcome systemic barriers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-achieve-741050/) [Achieve Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-master-741048/) [Background Inherently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-inherently-741049/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/)

## Related quotes

> [What love can achieve, nothing else can achieve!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-love-can-achieve-nothing-else-can-achieve/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [It's only those who are persistent and willing to study things deeply, who achieve the master work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-only-those-who-are-persistent-and-willing-to-study-things-deeply/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“They are probably the single most important deciding factor for long-term success, and your ability to set and make plans to achieve them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/they-are-probably-the-single-most-important-deciding-factor-for-long/)

[Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/)

> [In order to achieve to achieve positive results, one must work for them, not hope for them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/in-order-to-achieve-to-achieve-positive-results-one-must-work-for/)

[Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/)

> [I think the first half of my 20s I felt I had to achieve, achieve, achieve. A lot of men do this. I'm looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/i-think-the-first-half-of-my-20s-i-felt-i-had-to-achieve-achieve/)

[Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/)

> [Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/think-of-yourself-as-on-the-threshold-of-unparalleled-success-a-whole/)

[Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/)

> [“If you believe you can achieve, you will achieve”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-scott/if-you-believe-you-can-achieve-you-will-achieve/)

[Allison Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-scott/)

> [I will always back myself to achieve what I can achieve. It is all down to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ings/i-will-always-back-myself-to-achieve-what-i-can-achieve-it-is-all/)

[Danny Ings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-ings/)

> [Tax credits are designed to help people who work hard but who, through no fault of their own, don't earn enough to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/tax-credits-are-designed-to-help-people-who-work-hard-but-who-through/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [You can work hard, do everything that you think is right, but one thing you'll never overcome in life is fate. You can't control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-petty/you-can-work-hard-do-everything-that-you-think-is-right-but-one-thing/)

[Richard Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-petty/)

> [People in the land of LaLa look like expensive wax fruit. And they work hard to achieve that look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/people-in-the-land-of-lala-look-like-expensive-wax-fruit-and-they/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/)

[Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/)

> [I want people to know that you can achieve what you want to achieve, but you have to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-want-people-to-know-that-you-can-achieve-what-you-want-to-achieve/)

[Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/)

> [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/)

[Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/)

> [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/)

## More by Nicola Sturgeon

> [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [Voting Labour in the past hasn't protected Scotland against Tory governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/voting-labour-in-the-past-hasn-t-protected-scotland-against-tory/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [Glasgow is a great city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/glasgow-is-a-great-city/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [My political awakening, if I can be as grand as to call it that, was all about what was happening around me. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/my-political-awakening-if-i-can-be-as-grand-as-to-call-it-that-was/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [Vote SNP for a party that always stands up for Scotland, that is stronger for Scotland, and a government that will keep the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/vote-snp-for-a-party-that-always-stands-up-for-scotland-that-is/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [One of the attributes Glasgow is best known for all over the world is the friendliness of her people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/one-of-the-attributes-glasgow-is-best-known-for-all-over-the-world-is/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [Talent is really important in politics, but experience is also really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/talent-is-really-important-in-politics-but-experience-is-also-really/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [There was nothing in my childhood that said, 'She's going to be first minister of the country one day.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/there-was-nothing-in-my-childhood-that-said-she-s-going-to-be-first/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [Do I look like one of the most dangerous women in Britain? Come on!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/do-i-look-like-one-of-the-most-dangerous-women-in-britain-come-on/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [I was fascinated, long before I joined the SNP, in the world around me; current affairs really interested me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-was-fascinated-long-before-i-joined-the-snp-in-the-world-around-me/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [I think it is disgraceful. I think it is completely disgusting that you've got a candidate for prime minster who seems to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-think-it-is-disgraceful-i-think-it-is-completely-disgusting-that/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [I was studious and bookish. Not just as a child but also as a teenager. I took myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-was-studious-and-bookish-not-just-as-a-child-but-also-as-a-teenager/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [There can be no greater privilege in life than to be chosen to lead your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/there-can-be-no-greater-privilege-in-life-than-to-be-chosen-to-lead/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [It is one of the little known facts about modern Scottish politics that it is not quite as cut-throat as people think it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/it-is-one-of-the-little-known-facts-about-modern-scottish-politics/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [If something can be proven to work, we should try it... Making sure that our young folk get the best education is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/if-something-can-be-proven-to-work-we-should-try-it-making-sure-that/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

[Explore all 196 Nicola Sturgeon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 &amp; 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can't achieve what others can achieve. You are the master of your own fate, and if you work hard, you can do what you want.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nicola Sturgeon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that-inherently-holds-you-back-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that-inherently-holds-you-back-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/nicola-sturgeon-1950_achieve_there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that_850266.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can't achieve what others…” — Nicola Sturgeon",
                "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": "Nicola Sturgeon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is nothing in your background...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that-inherently-holds-you-back-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/there-is-nothing-in-your-background-that-inherently-holds-you-back-or/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
