---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientists have proven that it's…"
description: "\"Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking int..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg"
---

#  Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump…

![“Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet.” quote by Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg)

> “Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet.”

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker dismisses scientific limits on long‑jump distance, believing mental conviction can overcome physical constraints.

**In simple terms:** Belief can defy perceived limits.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate confidence to challenge limits.

Themes

confidence determination athletics mindset

Mood

motivational determined

Type

athletic inspirational

When to use this quote

- training
- competitive sports
- personal goal setting

Key Concepts

self‑efficacy psychological resilience performance

Questions to Reflect On

- What limits do you challenge?
- How does belief affect performance?

A Different Perspective

Physical laws still apply despite belief.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Athletics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) [Long jump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-jump/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/)

## Related quotes

> [I would like to jump 6.30 just because it sounds cool. Not because it's a limit, or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-duplantis/i-would-like-to-jump-6-30-just-because-it-sounds-cool-not-because-it/)

[Armand Duplantis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-duplantis/)

> [“Everything is possible until proven impossible, and then you just need to become more creative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parazynski/everything-is-possible-until-proven-impossible-and-then-you-just-need-2/)

[Scott Parazynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parazynski/)

> [“All things are possible until they are proven impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/all-things-are-possible-until-they-are-proven-impossible/)

[Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/)

> [Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-s-search-for-weapons-of-mass-destruction-has-proven-impossible/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [“Everything is possible until proven impossible, and then you just need to become more creative. The sky is not the limit. And it never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parazynski/everything-is-possible-until-proven-impossible-and-then-you-just-need/)

[Scott Parazynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parazynski/)

> [To this day, most people think of me as the fastest human. They don't really think me as a long jumper, although that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/to-this-day-most-people-think-of-me-as-the-fastest-human-they-don-t/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [A clear victory of satyagraha is impossible so long as there is ill will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-clear-victory-of-satyagraha-is-impossible-so-long-as-there-is-ill/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [But, if you miss (the supposedly easy pin) by just a little bit, you're looking at the next putt from 30 feet. The ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-crenshaw/but-if-you-miss-the-supposedly-easy-pin-by-just-a-little-bit-you-re/)

[Ben Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-crenshaw/)

> [A motorcycle coming down from 30 feet at 70 mph gives you a terrible jolt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/a-motorcycle-coming-down-from-30-feet-at-70-mph-gives-you-a-terrible/)

[Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/)

> [There are many things that seem impossible only so long as one does not attempt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/there-are-many-things-that-seem-impossible-only-so-long-as-one-does/)

[Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/)

> [Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilde/never-worry-about-the-size-of-your-christmas-tree-in-the-eyes-of-2/)

Larry Wilde

> [Sometimes I get my wife and my GPS mixed up...they both tell me what to do every 30 feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-my-wife-and-my-gps-mixed-up-they-both-tell-me-what-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away she looked like something made up to be seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/from-30-feet-away-she-looked-like-a-lot-of-class-from-10-feet-away/)

[Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/)

> [When you walk 25-30 feet above ground, it is a miracle, because you are still in the city ... but you are flying above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-piano/when-you-walk-25-30-feet-above-ground-it-is-a-miracle-because-you-are/)

[Renzo Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-piano/)

> [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/)

[Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

## More by Carl Lewis

> [I found the emotion that as an athlete you block out, and it really helped me to understand myself as a person. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-found-the-emotion-that-as-an-athlete-you-block-out-and-it-really/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [The people are fed up with their elected officials playing the blame game and treating their political counterparts as enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/the-people-are-fed-up-with-their-elected-officials-playing-the-blame/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [My life isn't interesting! It's my mom. You need to write her life and put me in it. I'm a cameo in her life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/my-life-isn-t-interesting-it-s-my-mom-you-need-to-write-her-life-and/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [I like the pressure of having to perform so people will come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-like-the-pressure-of-having-to-perform-so-people-will-come-to-me/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [I'm not supposed to be able to speak clearly, and decipher what's going on in the media. I'm supposed to be the typical amateur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-m-not-supposed-to-be-able-to-speak-clearly-and-decipher-what-s/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [You can't live your life through your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/you-can-t-live-your-life-through-your-children/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [Whether I'm 40, 50 or 60, I'm going to be as physically strong as I am able.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/whether-i-m-40-50-or-60-i-m-going-to-be-as-physically-strong-as-i-am/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/countries-like-jamaica-do-not-have-a-random-program-so-they-can-go/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [I've found that a person does not need protein from meat to be a successful athlete. In fact, my best year of track competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-ve-found-that-a-person-does-not-need-protein-from-meat-to-be-a/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [Join me in the final race to smash poverty and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/join-me-in-the-final-race-to-smash-poverty-and-achieve-the-un/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [The best kids are going to become the best. But the best thing about it is that you're going to learn lessons in playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/the-best-kids-are-going-to-become-the-best-but-the-best-thing-about/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [I've always known that sporting people frequently suffer from joint problems because of the repeated strain they put on their bodies to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-ve-always-known-that-sporting-people-frequently-suffer-from-joint/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [It's all about the journey, not the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/it-s-all-about-the-journey-not-the-outcome/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [I'm very serious about becoming a dramatic actor. I don't want to play cameo parts walking on as Carl Lewis the athlete. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-m-very-serious-about-becoming-a-dramatic-actor-i-don-t-want-to-play/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [Amateurism is the strongest form of discrimination in sports. Because it discriminates against the underprivileged, it discriminates against the poor. If we want sports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/amateurism-is-the-strongest-form-of-discrimination-in-sports-because/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

[Explore all 66 Carl Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

## More Athletics quotes

> [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/)

[Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/)

> [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/)

Frank H. T. Rhodes

> [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/)

[Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/)

> [The Games have been decimated. If you take away the Eastern Bloc, you take away 50% of the medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-games-have-been-decimated-if-you-take-away-the-eastern-bloc-you/)

[Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/)

> [If you have the sense of participation in sports or athletics, of being a player, then you are not really into the Zen mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-have-the-sense-of-participation-in-sports-or-athletics-of/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/)

[Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/)

> [Everyone is an athlete. The only difference is that some of us are in training, and some are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/everyone-is-an-athlete-the-only-difference-is-that-some-of-us-are-in/)

[George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/)

> [And with alphabetical irony Nigeria follows New Zealand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/and-with-alphabetical-irony-nigeria-follows-new-zealand/)

[David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/)

> [The very advanced practitioners of martial arts never had to raise a hand. They could knock an opponent down without physically touching them, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-very-advanced-practitioners-of-martial-arts-never-had-to-raise-a/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [There's discussion in athletics about how sport - where they say 'SportsCenter' has ruined the fundamentals of basketball because it's - it only applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pfeiffer/there-s-discussion-in-athletics-about-how-sport-where-they-say/)

[Dan Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pfeiffer/)

> [In the game of Frisbee you throw the disk to someone else. The point of Frisbee is perfect communication. The person at the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-game-of-frisbee-you-throw-the-disk-to-someone-else-the-point/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Physical perfection, working out, adds to your spiritual perfection if that is your intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/physical-perfection-working-out-adds-to-your-spiritual-perfection-if/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [If you get a great wife who understands the demands of someone in athletics, I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/if-you-get-a-great-wife-who-understands-the-demands-of-someone-in/)

[Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/)

> [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Participating in athletics gives all students an opportunity to learn about themselves, to compete, to negotiate with a team and learn skills that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/participating-in-athletics-gives-all-students-an-opportunity-to-learn/)

[Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/)

[Browse all 347 Athletics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carl Lewis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossible-to-long-jump-30-feet-but/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Athletics"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossible-to-long-jump-30-feet-but/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/carl-lewis-10327_athletics_scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossi_1424754.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk…” — Carl Lewis",
                "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": "Carl Lewis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Scientists have proven that it's impossible...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossible-to-long-jump-30-feet-but/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/scientists-have-proven-that-it-s-impossible-to-long-jump-30-feet-but/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
