Education should aim at destroying free will so that after pupils are thus schooled they will be incapable throughout the rest of their lives of thinking or acting otherwise than as their school masters would have wished
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
A man can do what he ought to do; and when he says he cannot, it is because he will not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of willpower and personal responsibility in achieving one's duties.
Johann Gottlieb Fichte's quote highlights the idea that individuals often have the ability to accomplish what they need to do, but may excuse their failures by claiming inability. The underlying message is that many times, what holds us back is not a lack of capability, but rather a lack of motivation or willingness to take action.
Themes
WillpowerResponsibilityMotivationAbilityAction
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech in a corporate environment to inspire employees.
More from Johann Gottlieb Fichte
All quotes βBy mere burial man arrives not at bliss; and in the future life, throughout its whole infinite range, they will seek for happiness as vainly as they sought it here, who seek it in aught else than that which so closely surrounds them here - the Infinite
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
Upon the progress of knowledge the whole progress of the human race is immediately dependent: he who retards that, hinders this also.
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
By philosophy the mind of man comes to itself, and from henceforth rests on itself without foreign aid, and is completely master of itself, as the dancer of his feet, or the boxer of his hands.
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
What sort of philosophy one chooses depends on what sort of person one is.
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
The schools must fashion the person, and fashion him in such a way that he simply cannot will otherwise than what you wish him to will.
Johann Gottlieb FichteRead
Similar quotes
Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.
Thomas S. MonsonRead
What we focus on determines how we feel. And how we feel - our state of mind - powerfully influences our actions and interactions.
Tony RobbinsRead
You have a row of dominoes set up; you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is that it will go over very quickly.
Dwight D. EisenhowerRead
I always say three things make a writer: inspiration, obviously; perspiration, doing the work. But the third is desperation. I'm not really fit for anything else, or to have a real job. That fear drives me. The pressure has always been self inflicted.
Harlan CobenRead
Ten thousand times has the labor movement stumbled and bruised itself. We have been enjoined by the courts, assaulted by thugs, charged by the militia, traduced by the press, frowned upon in public opinion, and deceived by politicians. 'But notwithstanding all this and all these, labor is today the most vital and potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate realization as is the setting of the sun.
Eugene V. DebsRead
A competitor continually sets new goals. He feels the need to keep raising the bar. If the fist goal is to make the team, and he achieves it, he immediately resets the goal to: I want to be a starter.
Pat SummittRead