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A man can do what he ought to do; and when he says he cannot, it is because he will not.

— Johann Gottlieb Fichte letter (1791)

Der Mensch kann was er soll; und wenn er sagt er kann nicht, so will er nicht.

Original text (German)

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Perseverance

More quotes by Johann Gottlieb Fichte

Upon the progress of knowledge the whole progress of the human race is immediately dependent: he who retards that, hinders this also.

The Vocation of the Scholar (1794)

Humanity may endure the loss of everything: all its possessions may be torn away without infringing its true dignity; — all but the possibility of improvement.

The Vocation of the Scholar (1794)

By conscience alone comes truth and reality into my representations.

The Vocation of Man (1800)

The law of the transcendental world must, therefore, be a Will.

The Vocation of Man (1800)

My consciousness of the object is only a yet unrecognised consciousness of my production of the representation of an object.

The Vocation of Man (1800)

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Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.

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Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt;
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Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.

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All theory is against the freedom of the will; all experience for it.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Johann Gottlieb Fichte (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.