My dad used to say this to me. All the time. I’ve always thought he made this up. Over the years, I’ve learned that he was right. It goes along with Yoda’s “There is no try – there is do, or do not.” This concept is an important keystone in optimism. We are our own worst enemy – and we are also our greatest ally.
Today, I stumbled on the quote elsewhere on the web and realized that it was Picasso who said:
“He can who thinks he can, and he can’t who thinks he can’t. This is an inexorable, indisputable law.”
So, while I’ve come to appreciate the truth in Dad’s words, I think it’s amazingly cool that he quoted Picasso at me as a kid. Completely awesome.
Now, if I can only figure out who made up all those dirty jokes he liked so much…