--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great many years ago I purchased a fine…" description: "\"“A great many years ago I purchased a fine dictionary. The first thing I did with it was to turn to the word \"impossible,\" and neatly clip it out of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/napoleon-hill-201_dictionary_a-great-many-years-ago-i-purchased-a-fin_2788295.jpg" --- # A great many years ago I purchased a fine dictionary. The… ![“A great many years ago I purchased a fine dictionary. The first thing I did with it was to turn to the word "impossible," and neatly clip it out of the book. That would not be an unwise thing for you to do.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/napoleon-hill-201_dictionary_a-great-many-years-ago-i-purchased-a-fin_2788295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/napoleon-hill-201_dictionary_a-great-many-years-ago-i-purchased-a-fin_2788295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/napoleon-hill-201_dictionary_a-great-many-years-ago-i-purchased-a-fin_2788295.jpg) > ““A great many years ago I purchased a fine dictionary. The first thing I did with it was to turn to the word "impossible," and neatly clip it out of the book. That would not be an unwise thing for you to do.”” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Removing the word “impossible” from your dictionary empowers you to pursue goals without self‑imposed limits. **In simple terms:** Delete “impossible” to empower yourself. Key Takeaway Eliminate limiting beliefs. Themes motivation self‑belief goal‑setting Mood determined optimistic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - dictionary - personal development Key Concepts mindset language power Questions to Reflect On - What words limit your potential? - How can you reframe “impossible”? A Different Perspective Some challenges remain realistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) ## Related quotes > [I bought a dictionary. First thing I did was, I looked up the word "dictionary", and it said "you're an asshole".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-bought-a-dictionary-first-thing-i-did-was-i-looked-up-the-word/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“Luckily," he went on, "you have come to exactly the right place with your interesting problem, for there is no such word as 'impossible'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/luckily-he-went-on-you-have-come-to-exactly-the-right-place-with-your/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The word 'impossible' is found only in the dictionary of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sreenadh/the-word-impossible-is-found-only-in-the-dictionary-of-fools/) [Sreenadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sreenadh/) > [“The word 'impossible' ain’t in my dictionary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-maria-tuccelli/the-word-impossible-ain-t-in-my-dictionary/) [Jessica Maria Tuccelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-maria-tuccelli/) > [Nothing can astound an American. It has often been asserted that the word 'impossible' is not a French one. People have evidently been deceived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/nothing-can-astound-an-american-it-has-often-been-asserted-that-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [The word impossible has been and must remain deleted from our dictionary,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingvar-kamprad/the-word-impossible-has-been-and-must-remain-deleted-from-our/) [Ingvar Kamprad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingvar-kamprad/) > [Who told you it couldn't be done? And what great achievement has he to his credit that entitles him to use the word 'impossible'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/who-told-you-it-couldn-t-be-done-and-what-great-achievement-has-he-to/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average man's familiarity with the word 'impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/one-of-the-main-weaknesses-of-mankind-is-the-average-man-s/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Desire backed by faith knows no such word as impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/desire-backed-by-faith-knows-no-such-word-as-impossible/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Nothing is impossible for a man with a strong will. The possible is in store only for a man who loves the future. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-il/nothing-is-impossible-for-a-man-with-a-strong-will-the-possible-is-in/) [Kim Jong Il](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-il/) > [What the word IMPOSSIBLE says I M Possible. So everything which seems impossible is itself says that is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-the-word-impossible-says-i-m-possible-so-everything-which-seems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never use the word “impossible” seriously again. Toss it into the verbal wastebucket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/never-use-the-word-impossible-seriously-again-toss-it-into-the-verbal/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I could use a hundred people who don't know there is such a word as impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/i-could-use-a-hundred-people-who-don-t-know-there-is-such-a-word-as/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“The word "impossible" used to mean something. It was a line that couldn't be crossed. It was the outer edge of the safe zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/the-word-impossible-used-to-mean-something-it-was-a-line-that-couldn/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [The word impossible is peculiar because if you examine it closely, you'll find that most of it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-word-impossible-is-peculiar-because-if-you-examine-it-closely-you/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Dictionary quotes > [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 hereby propose the term “miserize”, as a verb for misery – referring to “to cause misery”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-hereby-propose-the-term-miserize-as-a-verb-for-misery-referring-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The only place where compensation comes before service is in the dictionary or anywhere the government meddles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-only-place-where-compensation-comes-before-service-is-in-the/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [What's a depression? The dictionary says a depression is a dent. And what's a dent? Everybody knows a dent is a hole. And what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-durante/what-s-a-depression-the-dictionary-says-a-depression-is-a-dent-and/) [Jimmy Durante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-durante/) > [Cults use our vocabulary, but they don't use our dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/cults-use-our-vocabulary-but-they-don-t-use-our-dictionary/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“Every dictionary contains a world. I open a book of thieves’ slang from Queen Anne’s reign and they have a hundred words for swords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/every-dictionary-contains-a-world-i-open-a-book-of-thieves-slang-from/) [Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [“We have control on every word of the dictionary except for the 2:; "Death" and "Heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-tak/we-have-control-on-every-word-of-the-dictionary-except-for-the-2/) [Nikita Tak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-tak/) > [Weird itself, even in the dictionary, is just something that is different and unexplainable. A weirdo is someone who follows their heart. Im definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/weird-itself-even-in-the-dictionary-is-just-something-that-is/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [I'm not sure what to call 'Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary.' Nonfiction? Movie/toy fiction? But it is any Lego/'Star Wars' kid's dream. Call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/i-m-not-sure-what-to-call-lego-star-wars-the-visual-dictionary/) [Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/) > [“A dictionary is a ship that crosses the sea of words,” said Araki, with a sense that he was laying bare his innermost soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shion-miura/a-dictionary-is-a-ship-that-crosses-the-sea-of-words-said-araki-with/) [Shion Miura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shion-miura/) > [There is a word Kristos in the Greek dictionary, and this word is supposed to be borrowed from the Sanskrit word "Krishna," and Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/there-is-a-word-kristos-in-the-greek-dictionary-and-this-word-is/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [If you look in the dictionary under 'perfectionist,' you see Henry Selick correcting the definition of perfectionist in the dictionary. I mean, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/if-you-look-in-the-dictionary-under-perfectionist-you-see-henry/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I'm pretty sure that if you looked up the word "nuts" in the dictionary, you'll find my picture. Just another fun feature of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-pretty-sure-that-if-you-looked-up-the-word-nuts-in-the-dictionary/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) [Browse all 550 Dictionary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A great many years ago I purchased a fine dictionary. 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