--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have a responsibility to act for…" description: "\"“You have a responsibility to act for others when you're the only person in a position to do so. It's how you handle it that separates the great from t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/wilbert-rideau-52797_attitude_you-have-a-responsibility-to-act-for-oth_2423263.jpg" --- # You have a responsibility to act for others when you're… ![“You have a responsibility to act for others when you're the only person in a position to do so. It's how you handle it that separates the great from the mediocre.” quote by Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/wilbert-rideau-52797_attitude_you-have-a-responsibility-to-act-for-oth_2423263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/wilbert-rideau-52797_attitude_you-have-a-responsibility-to-act-for-oth_2423263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/wilbert-rideau-52797_attitude_you-have-a-responsibility-to-act-for-oth_2423263.jpg) > ““You have a responsibility to act for others when you're the only person in a position to do so. It's how you handle it that separates the great from the mediocre.”” [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True leadership is measured by acting for others when you’re the only one able to do so, distinguishing excellence from mediocrity. **In simple terms:** Act for others when you’re the only one who can. Key Takeaway Step up when others can’t. Themes leadership ethics responsibility Mood determined inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - workplace - volunteer crisis - emergency response - policy making Key Concepts moral duty social impact personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you were the sole decision‑maker? - How can you sustain ethical action over time? A Different Perspective Not everyone can or will act; risk of burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [A person in my position has to restrain himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/a-person-in-my-position-has-to-restrain-himself/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [As Pennsylvania Attorney General, I have the responsibility to act as a check on the federal government when it infringes upon our sovereignty, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/as-pennsylvania-attorney-general-i-have-the-responsibility-to-act-as/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [When our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-our-interests-and-values-are-at-stake-we-have-a-responsibility/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You have to take responsibility for how you act. You can't fix everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-davies/you-have-to-take-responsibility-for-how-you-act-you-can-t-fix-everyone/) [Dave Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-davies/) > [The way I change my life is to act as if I am the person I really want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-way-i-change-my-life-is-to-act-as-if-i-am-the-person-i-really/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I'm the same as I am on the field as I am off the field. It's not an act. I can't be another person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-m-the-same-as-i-am-on-the-field-as-i-am-off-the-field-it-s-not-an/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [Act as if you are the person you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/act-as-if-you-are-the-person-you-want-to-be/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Never lose yourself on the stage. Always act in your own person, as an artist. The moment you lose yourself on the stage marks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/never-lose-yourself-on-the-stage-always-act-in-your-own-person-as-an/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [Somebody once said that you can never act and be another person; you're only acting facets of yourself. I think there's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/somebody-once-said-that-you-can-never-act-and-be-another-person-you/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [“See. My one act. I might be a person. Beneath the.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eimear-mcbride/see-my-one-act-i-might-be-a-person-beneath-the/) [Eimear McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eimear-mcbride/) > [Act as if you were already the person you want most to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/act-as-if-you-were-already-the-person-you-want-most-to-be/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Criticize the act, not the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/criticize-the-act-not-the-person/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [One of the best ways to change is to act as if you are the person you want to become. When you behave as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/one-of-the-best-ways-to-change-is-to-act-as-if-you-are-the-person-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [We've been able to handle any team that you guys put in front of us. We've had confidence since day one. ... We feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-thompson/we-ve-been-able-to-handle-any-team-that-you-guys-put-in-front-of-us/) [Tristan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-thompson/) > [I want to be involved in things I can be really proud of. There's a lot of bad films being made and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-loftus/i-want-to-be-involved-in-things-i-can-be-really-proud-of-there-s-a/) [Aisling Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-loftus/) ## More by Wilbert Rideau > [The thing I've learned in life is that basically good people can do some really horrific things, and basically bad people can do some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/the-thing-i-ve-learned-in-life-is-that-basically-good-people-can-do/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) > [Life isn't that simple. Everybody has a dual potential to do good and bad and you're capable of doing both. But as to whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/life-isn-t-that-simple-everybody-has-a-dual-potential-to-do-good-and/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) > [If you're gonna judge people by crimes, you get into a quagmire. If you're gonna judge people by themselves, by who and what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/if-you-re-gonna-judge-people-by-crimes-you-get-into-a-quagmire-if-you/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) > [Whatever you want, you can make things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/whatever-you-want-you-can-make-things-happen/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) > [Solitary confinement has been used extensively, it always has. I was in prison for 44 years; it was a normal part of life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/solitary-confinement-has-been-used-extensively-it-always-has-i-was-in/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) > [Crime is a social problem, and education is the only real deterrent. Look at all of us in prison; we were all truants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/crime-is-a-social-problem-and-education-is-the-only-real-deterrent/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) [Explore all 7 Wilbert Rideau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You have a responsibility to act for others when you're the only person in a position to do so. 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