--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a philanthropist, I try to help people…" description: "\"As a philanthropist, I try to help people take ownership. Everything I've done is rooted in the notion that every human being is born equally capable. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pierre-omidyar-9759_being_as-a-philanthropist-i-try-to-help-people_2874612.jpg" --- # As a philanthropist, I try to help people take ownership… ![“As a philanthropist, I try to help people take ownership. Everything I've done is rooted in the notion that every human being is born equally capable. What people lack is equal opportunity.” quote by Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pierre-omidyar-9759_being_as-a-philanthropist-i-try-to-help-people_2874612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pierre-omidyar-9759_being_as-a-philanthropist-i-try-to-help-people_2874612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pierre-omidyar-9759_being_as-a-philanthropist-i-try-to-help-people_2874612.jpg) > “As a philanthropist, I try to help people take ownership. Everything I've done is rooted in the notion that every human being is born equally capable. What people lack is equal opportunity.” [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates empowering individuals through equal opportunity, believing innate capability is universal. **In simple terms:** Everyone is born capable; opportunity gaps hinder them. Key Takeaway Provide equal chances for all. Themes equality empowerment philanthropy Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - Education reform - job training - micro‑finance - community mentorship Key Concepts Human potential social justice opportunity gaps Questions to Reflect On - How can we create sustainable equal‑opportunity structures? - What role does wealth play in empowerment? A Different Perspective Systemic barriers often persist despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Equal opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-opportunity/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-being/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philanthropist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropist/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone is born equally capable but lacks equal opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/everyone-is-born-equally-capable-but-lacks-equal-opportunity/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Once people take ownership over the decision to receive feedback, they're less defensive about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/once-people-take-ownership-over-the-decision-to-receive-feedback-they/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [Openness by the leader paves the way for ownership by the people. Without ownership, changes will be short term. Changing people's habits and ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/openness-by-the-leader-paves-the-way-for-ownership-by-the-people/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“People take ownership of sickness and disease by saying things like MY high blood pressure MY diabetes, MY heart disease, MY depression, MY! MY!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/people-take-ownership-of-sickness-and-disease-by-saying-things-like/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [The only difference between Compton and other cities is the ZIP Code, you know, and the mindset - it's just really about challenging people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/the-only-difference-between-compton-and-other-cities-is-the-zip-code/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [“There's nothing wrong in being rich and famous, so long as you're giving back more than you're keeping for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-s-nothing-wrong-in-being-rich-and-famous-so-long-as-you-re/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“To us children he (Mr Ewing) was our very own ‘Mr Chips’ and invariably we would each receive half a crown whenever we encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/to-us-children-he-mr-ewing-was-our-very-own-mr-chips-and-invariably/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [He is one of those wise philanthropists who, in a time of famine, would vote for nothing but a supply of toothpicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/he-is-one-of-those-wise-philanthropists-who-in-a-time-of-famine-would/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [Philanthropy is often seen as society's risk capital. 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The best philanthropists bring the gifts that made them successful-the drive, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-best-philanthropy-is-not-just-about-giving-money-but-giving/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“The sparkle and morning-freshness of the shop, and the butter-conjuring girl, formed a mind-picture which accompanied the whole of my youth.(about the Buttercup Dairy)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/the-sparkle-and-morning-freshness-of-the-shop-and-the-butter/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [As a philanthropist, I give away a lot of money every year. Yet I thought there was a higher leverage to come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-skoll/as-a-philanthropist-i-give-away-a-lot-of-money-every-year-yet-i/) [Jeffrey Skoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-skoll/) > [“There's no sell in serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julieanne-o-connor/there-s-no-sell-in-serve/) [Julieanne O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julieanne-o-connor/) > [Wealth is not to feed our egos but to feed the hungry and to help people help themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/wealth-is-not-to-feed-our-egos-but-to-feed-the-hungry-and-to-help/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) ## More by Pierre Omidyar > [eBay's business is based on enabling someone to do business with another person, and to do that, they first have to develop some measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/ebay-s-business-is-based-on-enabling-someone-to-do-business-with/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I built a system simple enough to sustain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-built-a-system-simple-enough-to-sustain-itself/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [If you give people the opportunity to do the right thing, you'll rarely be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/if-you-give-people-the-opportunity-to-do-the-right-thing-you-ll/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [When you don't know what to expect, prepare for the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/when-you-don-t-know-what-to-expect-prepare-for-the-unexpected/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [A well-functioning microfinance bank can actually be a profitable business as well. 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If you start a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-should-pursue-your-passion-if-you-re-passionate-about-something/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [In terms of my belief that one individual can make a difference - that belief comes from my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/in-terms-of-my-belief-that-one-individual-can-make-a-difference-that/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Microloans enable the poor to lift themselves out of poverty through entrepreneurship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/microloans-enable-the-poor-to-lift-themselves-out-of-poverty-through/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [You have to really believe in what you're doing, be passionate enough about it so that you will put in the hours and hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-have-to-really-believe-in-what-you-re-doing-be-passionate-enough/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [People were doing business with one another through the Internet already, through bulletin boards. But on the Web, we could make it interactive, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/people-were-doing-business-with-one-another-through-the-internet/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I was raised with the notion that you can do pretty much do anything you want. I always kind of just went ahead and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-was-raised-with-the-notion-that-you-can-do-pretty-much-do-anything/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Everyone is born equally capable but lacks equal opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/everyone-is-born-equally-capable-but-lacks-equal-opportunity/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [You should pursue your passion. If you're passionate about something and you work hard, then I think you will be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-should-pursue-your-passion-if-you-re-passionate-about-something-2/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Technologists come at a problem from the point of view that the system is working a certain way, and if I engage in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/technologists-come-at-a-problem-from-the-point-of-view-that-the/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I developed an interest in supporting independent journalists in a way that leverages their work to the greatest extent possible, all in support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-developed-an-interest-in-supporting-independent-journalists-in-a/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) [Explore all 70 Pierre Omidyar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. 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I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? 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