If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger

“If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams.” Thus spoke Les Brown, the fiery orator of perseverance and the herald of human potential. His words, though simple in form, carry the force of a timeless truth — that responsibility is the first spark of destiny. Until a man or woman takes full ownership of their life — their choices, their failures, their triumphs — they will drift upon the winds of circumstance. But when one awakens and declares, “I am responsible,” then from the depths of the soul arises a sacred hunger — a burning desire to grow, to strive, and to fulfill one’s dreams.

Les Brown, born into poverty and struggle, knew firsthand the weight of circumstance. He was adopted, labeled “educably mentally retarded” as a child, and told by teachers and the world that his potential was limited. Yet it was when he stopped blaming the world for his misfortunes, when he stood before his own reflection and accepted responsibility for his future, that his journey began. From that moment, his dream of becoming a speaker, a teacher, and a guide for others came alive. Responsibility ignited the flame of ambition within him, and that flame, once lit, burned brighter than any obstacle that dared oppose him.

This truth is ancient and eternal. In every age, those who achieved greatness began with a moment of awakening — a recognition that their fate was not written by others, but by the choices of their own hand. Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, who endured twenty-seven years in prison, stripped of freedom, comfort, and power. Yet in that darkness, he did not surrender to bitterness or blame. He took responsibility for his spirit, for his integrity, for his purpose. He once said, “I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul.” It was this act of ownership, not his release, that made him free. When he emerged from his cell, it was not as a prisoner seeking vengeance, but as a leader hungering for unity and peace.

Les Brown’s words remind us that responsibility is the foundation of power. For as long as we blame others, we give them dominion over our destiny. We say, “It is their fault,” and in doing so, we forfeit our strength. But when we say, “It is my choice, my life, my path,” we reclaim that strength. Responsibility is the key that unlocks the gates of potential; without it, even the most gifted remain stagnant. It transforms the dreamer into the doer, the spectator into the creator of his own future.

The hunger that follows responsibility is not a quiet desire — it is a force of nature. It drives one to rise early, to work tirelessly, to persist when the world grows cold. It is not the hunger of greed, but the hunger of purpose — the sacred ache to become who one was meant to be. Once a person accepts that their dreams depend not on fate, nor favor, but on their own effort, a fire is born within them that no hardship can extinguish. They no longer wait for opportunity; they create it. They no longer hope for change; they embody it.

Think of the great inventors, explorers, and leaders — from Thomas Edison, who failed a thousand times before lighting the world, to Rosa Parks, who refused to surrender her seat and, in that act of courage, changed a nation’s course. Each one, before they acted, made the same inward vow: “I am responsible for my life and what I bring to it.” From that vow came their hunger — a hunger to achieve, to endure, to transform the world around them. Such hunger cannot be taught; it must be born within the soul that dares to own itself.

Therefore, take this lesson to heart, O seeker of purpose: own your life. Do not wait for permission, nor blame the stars for their alignment. Your circumstances may not be your fault, but your response always is. The moment you accept that truth, the universe itself begins to yield before your determination. Let that acceptance awaken the hunger for greatness within you — a hunger that will not rest until your dreams stand before you, living and breathing in the world.

And when doubt visits you, as it surely will, remember the words of Les Brown: “If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams.” For responsibility is not a burden, but a crown; not a weight, but a pair of wings. Wear it boldly, rise through the storms of life, and let your hunger carry you to the summits of your destiny.