--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At first people asked us, 'Can you do…" description: "\"At first people asked us, 'Can you do it?' And we kept silent because we didn't believe in ourselves, we didn't believe that we could do things. Today ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/indira-gandhi-1113_believe_at-first-people-asked-us-can-you-do-it-a_2805141.jpg" --- # At first people asked us, 'Can you do it?' And we kept… ![“At first people asked us, 'Can you do it?' And we kept silent because we didn't believe in ourselves, we didn't believe that we could do things. Today people no longer say to us, 'Can you?' They say, 'When can you?' Because the Indians finally believe in themselves, they believe they can do things.” quote by Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/indira-gandhi-1113_believe_at-first-people-asked-us-can-you-do-it-a_2805141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/indira-gandhi-1113_believe_at-first-people-asked-us-can-you-do-it-a_2805141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/indira-gandhi-1113_believe_at-first-people-asked-us-can-you-do-it-a_2805141.jpg) > “At first people asked us, 'Can you do it?' And we kept silent because we didn't believe in ourselves, we didn't believe that we could do things. Today people no longer say to us, 'Can you?' They say, 'When can you?' Because the Indians finally believe in themselves, they believe they can do things.” [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑belief transforms perception; from doubt to confidence, others' expectations shift accordingly. **In simple terms:** Believing in yourself changes how others see you. Key Takeaway Build confidence to change external expectations. Themes self‑belief empowerment perception leadership Mood inspirational motivational Type political personal When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - social movements Key Concepts psychology social dynamics motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does confidence affect opportunity? - What barriers persist despite belief? A Different Perspective External validation may still be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [My people, my people, what can I say; say what I can. I saw it but didn't believe it; I didn't believe what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/my-people-my-people-what-can-i-say-say-what-i-can-i-saw-it-but-didn-t/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [Maybe when I was younger, people didn't always believe in me; they didn't think I would make it to where I am now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/maybe-when-i-was-younger-people-didn-t-always-believe-in-me-they-didn/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [At some time in your life, you probably had someone believe in you when you didn't believe in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-some-time-in-your-life-you-probably-had-someone-believe-in-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I do not believe there is any place in this country for any particular culture, whether it is a Hindu culture, or a Muhammadan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romila-thapar/i-do-not-believe-there-is-any-place-in-this-country-for-any/) [Romila Thapar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romila-thapar/) > [Being the only Indian in class, I had to be able to stand up and defend myself and debate the others when they tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-bellegarde/being-the-only-indian-in-class-i-had-to-be-able-to-stand-up-and/) [Perry Bellegarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-bellegarde/) > [History is written by the winners. The books say the Indians were bad guys and the whites just needed a little land. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/history-is-written-by-the-winners-the-books-say-the-indians-were-bad/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [“Realization hit her, but she didn't want to believe. Didn't want to be hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-brennan/realization-hit-her-but-she-didn-t-want-to-believe-didn-t-want-to-be/) [Allison Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-brennan/) > [I realize that some folks might not believe me in this - I didn't run for Congress on the hopes that one day you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kennedy-iii/i-realize-that-some-folks-might-not-believe-me-in-this-i-didn-t-run/) [Joe Kennedy III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kennedy-iii/) > [If they told us what to believe, and we didn't come to it on our own, is it still true?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/if-they-told-us-what-to-believe-and-we-didn-t-come-to-it-on-our-own/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You fought for what you believe even when others didn't want to listen. Gave a little piece of you but nothin' is missin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-fought-for-what-you-believe-even-when-others-didn-t-want-to/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [“They created us, they shaped our world, they told us what to believe. If they told us what to believe, and we didn't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/they-created-us-they-shaped-our-world-they-told-us-what-to-believe-if-2/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You knew. I refuse to believe that you didn't. If you didn't, then you are incompetent. And that is one excuse you can't use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahj-wilson/you-knew-i-refuse-to-believe-that-you-didn-t-if-you-didn-t-then-you/) [Tahj Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahj-wilson/) > [“Which of my two critics was I to believe? I didn't worry about it and very soon made up my mind they were both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/which-of-my-two-critics-was-i-to-believe-i-didn-t-worry-about-it-and/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“They created us, they shaped our world, they told us what to believe. If they told us what to believe, and we didn’t come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/they-created-us-they-shaped-our-world-they-told-us-what-to-believe-if/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I was just a normal teenager, going out with my friends, enjoying my time. I didn't really believe in anything, I didn't fast or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/i-was-just-a-normal-teenager-going-out-with-my-friends-enjoying-my/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) ## More by Indira Gandhi > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [In all societies that have applied a form of socialism, a certain degree of social economic equality has been achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/in-all-societies-that-have-applied-a-form-of-socialism-a-certain/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I cannot understand how anyone can be an Indian and not be proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-cannot-understand-how-anyone-can-be-an-indian-and-not-be-proud/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Even today to be civilised is held to be synonymous with being westernised. Advanced countries devote large resources to formulating and spreading ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/even-today-to-be-civilised-is-held-to-be-synonymous-with-being/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [To me the function of politics is to make possible the desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-me-the-function-of-politics-is-to-make-possible-the-desirable/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [To become capable, one must have faith in oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-become-capable-one-must-have-faith-in-oneself/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [If we offer something to Bangladesh, it's obvious that Bangladesh is offering something to us. And why shouldn't Bangladesh be able to keep its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/if-we-offer-something-to-bangladesh-it-s-obvious-that-bangladesh-is/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The India I want, I'll never tire of repeating, is a more just and less poor India, one entirely free of foreign influences. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/the-india-i-want-i-ll-never-tire-of-repeating-is-a-more-just-and-less/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Satisfied is a word I use only in reference to my country, and I'll never be satisfied for my country. For this reasons I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/satisfied-is-a-word-i-use-only-in-reference-to-my-country-and-i-ll/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I always wanted to have children - if it had been up to me, I would have had eleven. It was my husband who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-always-wanted-to-have-children-if-it-had-been-up-to-me-i-would-have/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/defeats-are-always-pitiful-victories-are-always-last-resources/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [To be liberated, woman must feel free to be herself, not in rivalry to man but in the context of her own capacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-be-liberated-woman-must-feel-free-to-be-herself-not-in-rivalry-to/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further, and yet we cannot for a moment forget the grim poverty of large numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/we-do-not-wish-to-impoverish-the-environment-any-further-and-yet-we/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) [Explore all 290 Indira Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At first people asked us, 'Can you do it?' And we kept silent because we didn't believe in ourselves, we didn't believe that we could do things. Today people no longer say to us, 'Can you?' They say, 'When can you?' 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