--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the general effect of attempting things…" description: "\"“the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even though we fail, is to enlarge and liberalize the mind.”\" — Ann Shen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg" --- # the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even… ![“the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even though we fail, is to enlarge and liberalize the mind.” quote by Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg) > ““the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even though we fail, is to enlarge and liberalize the mind.”” [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting beyond your limits expands perspective, even if you fail. **In simple terms:** Trying big things broadens the mind. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow. Themes growth learning risk-taking Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical encouraging When to use this quote - education - entrepreneurship - personal development Key Concepts cognitive expansion resilience Questions to Reflect On - What limits are you imposing on yourself? - How can failure become a learning tool? A Different Perspective Failure may discourage and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enlarge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlarge/) [Enlarge Liberalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlarge-liberalize-2514818/) [Fail Enlarge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-enlarge-2514819/) [Liberalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalize-2514820/) [Liberalize Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalize-mind-2514817/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/if-you-want-to-enlarge-your-life-you-must-first-enlarge-your-thought/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [We lift ourselves by our thought, we climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-lift-ourselves-by-our-thought-we-climb-upon-our-vision-of/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Nothing tends so much to enlarge the mind as traveling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/nothing-tends-so-much-to-enlarge-the-mind-as-traveling/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [I hear the sound of an abundance of rain! Faith, means we must be able to HEAR the answer before we SEE it! For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/i-hear-the-sound-of-an-abundance-of-rain-faith-means-we-must-be-able/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle in the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/to-enlarge-or-illustrate-this-power-and-effect-of-love-is-to-set-a/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) > [Enlarge not thy destiny, said the oracle: endeavor not to do more than is given thee in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/enlarge-not-thy-destiny-said-the-oracle-endeavor-not-to-do-more-than/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Fear is my mind painstakingly creating the worse-case scenario and then putting it on steroids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/fear-is-my-mind-painstakingly-creating-the-worse-case-scenario-and/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [What some people invent the rest enlarge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/what-some-people-invent-the-rest-enlarge/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/let-god-enlarge-you-when-you-are-going-through-distress-he-can-do-it/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [If a problem cannot be solved, enlarge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/if-a-problem-cannot-be-solved-enlarge-it/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Largeness is a lifelong matter - sometimes a conscious goal, sometimes not. You enlarge yourself because that is the kind of individual you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/largeness-is-a-lifelong-matter-sometimes-a-conscious-goal-sometimes/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [O, God of wonder, enlarge my capacity to be amazed at what is amazing, and end my attraction to the insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/o-god-of-wonder-enlarge-my-capacity-to-be-amazed-at-what-is-amazing/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The iPad is great because you can enlarge the print on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-fricker/the-ipad-is-great-because-you-can-enlarge-the-print-on-it/) [Brenda Fricker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-fricker/) > [You must constantly strive to enlarge your awareness. Naturally, if you do, you will have an uncommonly fine and happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-must-constantly-strive-to-enlarge-your-awareness-naturally-if-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Freedom is not caprice but room to enlarge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/freedom-is-not-caprice-but-room-to-enlarge/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) ## More by Ann Shen > [“Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who was willing to be bad in the best sense of the word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-won-by-a-woman-who-was-willing/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“As America’s first movie sweetheart, Pickford was savvy enough to leave her name off the executive producer and director credits in order to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/as-america-s-first-movie-sweetheart-pickford-was-savvy-enough-to/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“Not bad for a Jewish girl from Brooklyn who, upon her arrival at Harvard Law School, had been asked by the dean why she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/not-bad-for-a-jewish-girl-from-brooklyn-who-upon-her-arrival-at/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“To be a bad girl is to break any socially accepted rule. For some women, it’s the way they dress. For other girls, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/to-be-a-bad-girl-is-to-break-any-socially-accepted-rule-for-some/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“Quant was the first designer to design for her generation—and she was great at it. She didn’t care about making money; she wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/quant-was-the-first-designer-to-design-for-her-generation-and-she-was/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“During her nomination process, she got wind that one of her law school classmates was telling everyone about her demeaning nickname in school, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/during-her-nomination-process-she-got-wind-that-one-of-her-law-school/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“This is a book about women. This is a book about girls who had a ton of fear and personal flaws and faced insurmountable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/this-is-a-book-about-women-this-is-a-book-about-girls-who-had-a-ton/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“The book presents a broad world of women coming from all eras, countries, backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. They’re rabble-rousers from all sorts of disciplines:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-book-presents-a-broad-world-of-women-coming-from-all-eras/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“During World War I, Oakley offered to train a regiment of women sharpshooters, but the government ignored her. Instead, she set out to assist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/during-world-war-i-oakley-offered-to-train-a-regiment-of-women/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“Her message: the way to get what you want out of life is not through a man but through your career; set your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/her-message-the-way-to-get-what-you-want-out-of-life-is-not-through-a/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) > [“You are never too old, too small, or too late to live the life you’re meant to lead. Especially if it means rewriting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/you-are-never-too-old-too-small-or-too-late-to-live-the-life-you-re/) [Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) [Explore all 12 Ann Shen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/) ## More Enlarge quotes > [If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/if-you-want-to-enlarge-your-life-you-must-first-enlarge-your-thought/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [You must constantly strive to enlarge your awareness. Naturally, if you do, you will have an uncommonly fine and happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-must-constantly-strive-to-enlarge-your-awareness-naturally-if-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The iPad is great because you can enlarge the print on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-fricker/the-ipad-is-great-because-you-can-enlarge-the-print-on-it/) [Brenda Fricker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-fricker/) > [O, God of wonder, enlarge my capacity to be amazed at what is amazing, and end my attraction to the insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/o-god-of-wonder-enlarge-my-capacity-to-be-amazed-at-what-is-amazing/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Largeness is a lifelong matter - sometimes a conscious goal, sometimes not. You enlarge yourself because that is the kind of individual you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/largeness-is-a-lifelong-matter-sometimes-a-conscious-goal-sometimes/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [If a problem cannot be solved, enlarge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/if-a-problem-cannot-be-solved-enlarge-it/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/let-god-enlarge-you-when-you-are-going-through-distress-he-can-do-it/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [What some people invent the rest enlarge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/what-some-people-invent-the-rest-enlarge/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“Fear is my mind painstakingly creating the worse-case scenario and then putting it on steroids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/fear-is-my-mind-painstakingly-creating-the-worse-case-scenario-and/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Enlarge not thy destiny, said the oracle: endeavor not to do more than is given thee in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/enlarge-not-thy-destiny-said-the-oracle-endeavor-not-to-do-more-than/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle in the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/to-enlarge-or-illustrate-this-power-and-effect-of-love-is-to-set-a/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) > [I hear the sound of an abundance of rain! Faith, means we must be able to HEAR the answer before we SEE it! For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/i-hear-the-sound-of-an-abundance-of-rain-faith-means-we-must-be-able/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [Nothing tends so much to enlarge the mind as traveling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/nothing-tends-so-much-to-enlarge-the-mind-as-traveling/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [We lift ourselves by our thought, we climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/we-lift-ourselves-by-our-thought-we-climb-upon-our-vision-of/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Freedom is not caprice but room to enlarge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-bartol/freedom-is-not-caprice-but-room-to-enlarge/) [C. A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-bartol/) [Browse all 17 Enlarge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlarge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even though we fail, is to enlarge and liberalize the mind.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Shen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-general-effect-of-attempting-things-beyond-us-even-though-we-fail/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enlarge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-general-effect-of-attempting-things-beyond-us-even-though-we-fail/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/ann-shen-37208_psychology_the-general-effect-of-attempting-things_1862279.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even though we fail, is to enlarge and liberalize the mind.” — Ann Shen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Shen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the general effect of attempting things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-general-effect-of-attempting-things-beyond-us-even-though-we-fail/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-general-effect-of-attempting-things-beyond-us-even-though-we-fail/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```