“Can't is the word that is foe to ambition,
An enemy ambushed to shatter your will;
Its prey is forever the man with a mission
And bows but to courage and patience and skill.
Hate it, with hatred that's deep and undying,
For once it is welcomed 'twill break any man;
Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying
And answer this demon by saying: "I can."”

— Edgar Guest

Can't, stanza 4, p. 54.
A Heap o' Livin' (1916)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Dec. 16, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Can't is the word that is foe to ambition, An enemy ambushed to shatter your will; Its prey is forever the man with a…" by Edgar Guest?

Edgar Guest photo

Edgar Guest 61

American writer 1881–1959

Related quotes

“A crafty enemy will set a weak ambush you are meant to break through. Confident because you have dealt with the threat, your guard relaxed, you walk into the second, stronger ambush.”

Robert Jordan (1948–2007) American writer

Caldin
(15 October 1994)

“Whatever an enemy might do to an enemy, or a foe to a foe, the ill-directed mind can do to you even worse.
Whatever a mother, father or other kinsman might do for you, the well-directed mind can do for you even better.”

Gautama Buddha (-563–-483 BC) philosopher, reformer and the founder of Buddhism

Pali Canon 42-43 Cittavagga The Mind http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.03.than.html.
Unclassified

“They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) 32nd President of the United States

1930s, Address at Madison Square Garden (1936)
Context: We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace — business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.

“Here's what I'm going to have to say to all of you. If some of you have demons in your head who talk to you in profanity or whatever, don't let your demon shoot down your rock music, don't let your demon keep you off the joy bus. So like I say, Rock music pays off.”

Wesley Willis (1963–2003) American singer-songwriter

Spoken at the end of the Wesley Willis Live EP.

“Enemies can't break your spirit, only friends can.”

Arundhati Roy book The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Source: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

“Loving, we've been loving, but sometimes hate is better
You can't keep out the killers with love, man
Hating, we've been hating, but only love can heal up the hate ~ Nightfriends”

Steve Kilbey (1954) British artist

Lyrics

“Is love so fragile,
And the heart so hollow,
Shatter with words,
Impossible to follow,
You're saying I'm fragile, I try not to be,
I search only, for something I can't see.”

Stevie Nicks (1948) American singer and songwriter, member of Fleetwood Mac

Leather And Lace
Bella Donna (album) (1981)

“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That's why Jesus says, "Love your enemies." Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they're mistreating you. Here's the person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you and all of that. Just keep being friendly to that person. Keep loving them. Don't do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can't stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they're mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they'll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That's love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There's something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement

1950s, Loving Your Enemies (November 1957)

“Cinderella man,
Doing what you can,
They can't understand what it means
Cinderella man,
Hang on to your plans,
Try as they might, they cannot steal your dreams”

Geddy Lee (1953) vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush

"Cinderella Man"

“"Nasruddin, four years ago you were here, and I asked that time also what is your age, and you told me forty years. Now this is absolutely inconsistent – how can you still be forty?"
Nasruddin said, "I am a man of consistency. Once forty, I remain forty always. When I have answered once, I have answered forever! You cannot lead me astray. I am forty, and whenever you ask you will get the same answer."”

Nasreddin (1208–1284) philosopher, Sufi and wise man from Turkey, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes

Osho, And The Flowers Showered (2003), , p. 204

Related topics