--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We tend to minimize the things we can do…" description: "\"We tend to minimize the things we can do, the goals we can accomplish, and for some equally strange reason we think other people can accomplish things ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/earl-nightingale-1728_ability_we-tend-to-minimize-the-things-we-can-do_86688.jpg" --- # We tend to minimize the things we can do, the goals we can… ![“We tend to minimize the things we can do, the goals we can accomplish, and for some equally strange reason we think other people can accomplish things that we cannot. I want you to understand that that is not true. You have deep reservoirs of talent and ability within you that you can bring to the…” quote by Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/earl-nightingale-1728_ability_we-tend-to-minimize-the-things-we-can-do_86688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/earl-nightingale-1728_ability_we-tend-to-minimize-the-things-we-can-do_86688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/earl-nightingale-1728_ability_we-tend-to-minimize-the-things-we-can-do_86688.jpg) > “We tend to minimize the things we can do, the goals we can accomplish, and for some equally strange reason we think other people can accomplish things that we cannot. I want you to understand that that is not true. You have deep reservoirs of talent and ability within you that you can bring to the surface and achieve all that you desire” [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often underestimate their own capabilities while overestimating others', yet everyone possesses deep, untapped talent that can be accessed to achieve personal goals. **In simple terms:** Believe in your hidden abilities and pursue your goals. Key Takeaway Self‑belief unlocks latent talent. Themes self‑efficacy motivation potential goal setting Mood encouraging empowering Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - career planning - skill development - overcoming imposter syndrome Key Concepts growth mindset self‑sabotage Practical Applications - regular self‑assessment - skill‑building routines Questions to Reflect On - What evidence do you have of your own untapped talent? - How can you create conditions that surface your abilities? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on innate talent may downplay the role of effort and external support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talents and abilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents-and-abilities/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It is not true that people who accomplish things don't waste time and that people who waste time don't accomplish things. The very concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/it-is-not-true-that-people-who-accomplish-things-don-t-waste-time-and/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [I want people to appreciate talent and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-want-people-to-appreciate-talent-and-ability/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [You have to be there not for the fame and glory and recognition and being a page in a history book, but you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shepard/you-have-to-be-there-not-for-the-fame-and-glory-and-recognition-and/) [Alan Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shepard/) > [A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/a-mentor-is-someone-who-sees-more-talent-and-ability-within-you-than/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Talent doesn't win. Hard work, determination, and character wins. If you root your talent and ability in those things, then you have a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/talent-doesn-t-win-hard-work-determination-and-character-wins-if-you/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [I question my own talent and ability to make creative work every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/i-question-my-own-talent-and-ability-to-make-creative-work-every/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [What can people not accomplish if they will but master the secret of steadfast perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hegan-rice/what-can-people-not-accomplish-if-they-will-but-master-the-secret-of/) [Alice Hegan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hegan-rice/) > [There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-are-basically-two-types-of-people-people-who-accomplish-things/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There's absolutely no limit to what plain, ordinary, working people can accomplish if they're given the opportunity and encouragement to do their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/there-s-absolutely-no-limit-to-what-plain-ordinary-working-people-can/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [God is using people to accomplish His work, of saving souls, but we have to remember that it is not us doing the work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/god-is-using-people-to-accomplish-his-work-of-saving-souls-but-we/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [“I wish people could accomplish everything they want so they could learn its not everything they need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/i-wish-people-could-accomplish-everything-they-want-so-they-could/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [It is tranquil people who accomplish much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-tranquil-people-who-accomplish-much/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [People who accomplish big things did small things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/people-who-accomplish-big-things-did-small-things-well/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [In every single day, in every walk of life, ordinary people do extraordinary things. Ordinary People accomplish Extraordinary things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/in-every-single-day-in-every-walk-of-life-ordinary-people-do/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [The rule should be to minimize the need for people to get together to accomplish anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-rule-should-be-to-minimize-the-need-for-people-to-get-together-to/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## More by Earl Nightingale > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Open your ears before you open your mouth, it may surprise your eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/open-your-ears-before-you-open-your-mouth-it-may-surprise-your-eyes/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [People don't have great attitudes because of great success, they have great success largely because of great attitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/people-don-t-have-great-attitudes-because-of-great-success-they-have/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Now, success is not the result of making money; making money is the result of success - and success is in direct proportion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/now-success-is-not-the-result-of-making-money-making-money-is-the/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/the-more-intensely-we-feel-about-an-idea-or-a-goal-the-more-assuredly/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [We all walk in the dark and each of us must learn to turn on his or her own light.\[so we can see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/we-all-walk-in-the-dark-and-each-of-us-must-learn-to-turn-on-his-or/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [You can predict a person?s future and divine his bank balance if you know two things: the books he reads, the people he associates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/you-can-predict-a-person-s-future-and-divine-his-bank-balance-if-you/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [The amount of money we receive will always be in direct ratio to the demand for what we do; our ability to do it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/the-amount-of-money-we-receive-will-always-be-in-direct-ratio-to-the/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [“And the greatest teacher of them all, the carpenter from the plains of Galilee, gave us the Secret time and time again, "As ye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/and-the-greatest-teacher-of-them-all-the-carpenter-from-the-plains-of/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Do what experts since the dawn of recorded history have told you you must do: pay the price by becoming the person you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/do-what-experts-since-the-dawn-of-recorded-history-have-told-you-you/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [A success is anyone who is doing deliberately a pre-determined job, because that's what he decided to do deliberately. But only one out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/a-success-is-anyone-who-is-doing-deliberately-a-pre-determined-job/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Achievement requires more than a vision - it takes courage, resolve and tenacity. All you have got to do is plant that seed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/achievement-requires-more-than-a-vision-it-takes-courage-resolve-and/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/the-biggest-mistake-that-you-can-make-is-to-believe-that-you-are/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [We may avoid the laws of man, but there are greater laws that can't be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/we-may-avoid-the-laws-of-man-but-there-are-greater-laws-that-can-t-be/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [About 95% of people can be compared to ships without rudders. Subject to every shift of wind and tide, they're helplessly adrift. And while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/about-95-of-people-can-be-compared-to-ships-without-rudders-subject/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) [Explore all 213 Earl Nightingale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We tend to minimize the things we can do, the goals we can accomplish, and for some equally strange reason we think other people can accomplish things that we cannot. 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