--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The brain says “it is impossible” and the…" description: "\"“The brain says “it is impossible” and the legs respond “let’s sit down”. The brain says “it is possible” and the legs respond “let’s go to work”. Don’..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg" --- # The brain says “it is impossible” and the legs respond… ![“The brain says “it is impossible” and the legs respond “let’s sit down”. The brain says “it is possible” and the legs respond “let’s go to work”. Don’t blame the legs, blame the head.” quote by Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg) > ““The brain says “it is impossible” and the legs respond “let’s sit down”. The brain says “it is possible” and the legs respond “let’s go to work”. Don’t blame the legs, blame the head.”” [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage contrasts mental attitudes: when the mind declares a task impossible, the body stays idle; when the mind affirms possibility, the body takes action. It urges responsibility for one’s mindset rather than blaming physical inertia. **In simple terms:** Mindset determines action; blame the head, not the legs. Key Takeaway Attitude drives behavior. Themes psychology motivation self‑efficacy personal responsibility Mood encouraging reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - overcoming procrastination - sports performance coaching - career goal setting Key Concepts cognitive framing behavioral activation Practical Applications - practice positive self‑talk - set incremental challenges Questions to Reflect On - What mental habits keep you stuck in the ‘impossible’ narrative? - How can you cultivate a mindset that reliably initiates effort? A Different Perspective Physical limitations (injury, fatigue) can also impede action regardless of mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-says-1144016/) [Food for thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-for-thought/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Impossibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossibility/) [Israelmore-ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israelmore-ayivor/) [It-is-possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-is-possible-94987/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Legs Respond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs-respond-1302667/) [Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities/) [Says Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-possible-788404/) [Sit Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-brain-1302666/) [Take-actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-actions/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) [You can do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-can-do-it/) ## Related quotes > [“There are some things you can change about your life; believe it is possible and take actions. God will grant you the grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/there-are-some-things-you-can-change-about-your-life-believe-it-is/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I think when you sit alone with your brain too much, your own brain starts to rebel against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-think-when-you-sit-alone-with-your-brain-too-much-your-own-brain/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“Positive attitude enables you to go with passion and see possibility in every challenging circumstance. It was by that, that great achievers picked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/positive-attitude-enables-you-to-go-with-passion-and-see-possibility/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Cease to think of an impossibility and you will seize an opportunity for productivity. Excellence comes when you leave thoughts of imposibilities behind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/cease-to-think-of-an-impossibility-and-you-will-seize-an-opportunity/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Go wherever the narrow way passes. If possible, go wherever there seems to be no way and create a way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/go-wherever-the-narrow-way-passes-if-possible-go-wherever-there-seems/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Let your vision be ahead of your sight! Dream beyond what you see and never let your environment determine the size of what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/let-your-vision-be-ahead-of-your-sight-dream-beyond-what-you-see-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Everything known and referred to as “impossible” is often what has not been attempted before. It will always have a change of name once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/everything-known-and-referred-to-as-impossible-is-often-what-has-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“If you think it is possible, it will be possible. If you think it is impossible, the imposible will be possible. Whatever you think;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-think-it-is-possible-it-will-be-possible-if-you-think-it-is/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“People are tired of being told that it's possible... It's time to show them how it can be possible. Leadership is demonstration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/people-are-tired-of-being-told-that-it-s-possible-it-s-time-to-show/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Just watching the drama stage does not define your successful performance; success lies in the display you do on that drama platform and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/just-watching-the-drama-stage-does-not-define-your-successful/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“It’s is not a surprising news that manna should fall from heaven in these days. But this manna will fall for those who cultivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-s-is-not-a-surprising-news-that-manna-should-fall-from-heaven-in/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Give a try; give a shot. Sometimes, you must not only expect the way to be too clear; strike when you can!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/give-a-try-give-a-shot-sometimes-you-must-not-only-expect-the-way-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“To shape a dream well, understand that it is going to happen through processes in which your hands must get on board. It takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/to-shape-a-dream-well-understand-that-it-is-going-to-happen-through/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Success will locate and visit you even if you are static wherever you are... But remember you are responsible for constructing the roads... Go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/success-will-locate-and-visit-you-even-if-you-are-static-wherever-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“One of the critical factors that make people’s dreams become nightmares is that they don’t know there is a cost to be paid!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/one-of-the-critical-factors-that-make-people-s-dreams-become/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Israelmore Ayivor > [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Every game has rules. Life’s a game that has its respective rules; obey the rules, win the game!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/every-game-has-rules-life-s-a-game-that-has-its-respective-rules-obey/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. People who are gentle, humble and able always have a great ending no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/humble-yourself-before-the-lord-and-he-will-lift-you-high-people-who/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The leader’s commandment is made up of pledges to solve local and global problems, and not to create more problems to add to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-leader-s-commandment-is-made-up-of-pledges-to-solve-local-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“You carry greatness disguised in tiny potentials.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-carry-greatness-disguised-in-tiny-potentials/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Don't keep looking for "something" in the bag of "nothing". You will see the same thing again and again no matter how many times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-keep-looking-for-something-in-the-bag-of-nothing-you-will-see/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Your flour is your dream and your bread is your fulfillment. The environment in which your flour is baked can influence the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/your-flour-is-your-dream-and-your-bread-is-your-fulfillment-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The vision of life is not a "discovery"; it's a "work" and whatever position you occupy demands work. Your life may not be built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-vision-of-life-is-not-a-discovery-it-s-a-work-and-whatever/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“I do not worship a DEAD and buried Christ at Calvary. I worship a ressurected and LIVING Christ in Heaven! Jesus Christ is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-do-not-worship-a-dead-and-buried-christ-at-calvary-i-worship-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Bear in mind that humility is not timidity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/bear-in-mind-that-humility-is-not-timidity/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) [Explore all 1,547 Israelmore Ayivor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More Actions quotes > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [A lot of my work involves instilling objects with the power of touch - a transference of soul, spirit, energy through actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-colen/a-lot-of-my-work-involves-instilling-objects-with-the-power-of-touch/) [Dan Colen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-colen/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [True love is proven through the actions of your true love!! Not through the act of saying it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-proven-through-the-actions-of-your-true-love-not-through/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [As we get more transparent with data sets about infrastructure and systems management, I have a feeling we'll see big changes in how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/as-we-get-more-transparent-with-data-sets-about-infrastructure-and/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [“When you are pushed to the wall, you will act and do things you have never done before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/when-you-are-pushed-to-the-wall-you-will-act-and-do-things-you-have/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) [Alan Sheinwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sheinwald/) > [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“We are the result of our mere actions. What we do, we become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/we-are-the-result-of-our-mere-actions-what-we-do-we-become/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [I would rather have my actions speak for me on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-insigne/i-would-rather-have-my-actions-speak-for-me-on-the-pitch/) [Lorenzo Insigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-insigne/) > [If you want to know someone's mind, listen to their words. If you want to know their heart, watch their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-know-someone-s-mind-listen-to-their-words-if-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Twitter didn't make up the hashtag. Twitter didn't make up the retweet. It's our users. And people started using them so much that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-jacobs-stanton/twitter-didn-t-make-up-the-hashtag-twitter-didn-t-make-up-the-retweet/) [Katie Jacobs Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-jacobs-stanton/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) [Browse all 1,287 Actions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The brain says “it is impossible” and the legs respond “let’s sit down”. The brain says “it is possible” and the legs respond “let’s go to work”. Don’t blame the legs, blame the head.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Israelmore Ayivor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the-legs-respond-let-s-sit-down/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the-legs-respond-let-s-sit-down/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/israelmore-ayivor-79_actions_the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the_109239.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The brain says “it is impossible” and the legs respond “let’s sit down”. The brain says “it is possible” and…” — Israelmore Ayivor", "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": "Israelmore Ayivor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The brain says “it is impossible”...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the-legs-respond-let-s-sit-down/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-brain-says-it-is-impossible-and-the-legs-respond-let-s-sit-down/#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 } } ] } ```