“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small.”
Lao Tzu · Tao Te Ching
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Believe you can and you're halfway there.
About this quote
Meaning
This quote makes the case that belief in oneself is not just a pleasant attitude but a practical requirement for success. The reasoning is that confidence removes one of the most common obstacles people face: the internal resistance that stops action before it even begins. If a person genuinely believes they can achieve something, they are already partway to achieving it, because that belief unlocks effort, persistence, and willingness to try. Doubt, by contrast, tends to stop people before they start.
Context
This line is widely attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, a figure known for his forceful personality and his emphasis on vigor, courage, and active engagement with life. Roosevelt frequently spoke and wrote about the importance of character, effort, and refusing to be held back by fear or timidity. A quote like this fits naturally within his broader philosophy, which often framed success as something earned through bold action rather than passive waiting. It captures the motivational spirit that marked much of his public communication.
About the author
Theodore Roosevelt served as the twenty-sixth President of the United States, taking office in 1901. Before and after his presidency, he was known as a writer, naturalist, soldier, and public intellectual with an unusually wide range of interests. Roosevelt was a vocal advocate for what he called the strenuous life, a philosophy that valued physical and moral courage, hard work, and direct engagement with challenges. His speeches and writings were often energetic and direct, aimed at inspiring Americans to pursue ambitious goals without holding back.
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Share this quote
“Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico and the Far East, eating only at Hard Rock Cafes and McDonalds? Or do we want to eat without fear, tearing into the local stew, the humble taqueria's mystery meat, the sincerely offered gift of a lightly grilled fish head?”