--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be put off by people who know what…" description: "\"Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.\" — P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/paul-hawken-3831_checks_don-t-be-put-off-by-people-who-know-what_2634542.jpg" --- # Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible… ![“Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.” quote by Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/paul-hawken-3831_checks_don-t-be-put-off-by-people-who-know-what_2634542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/paul-hawken-3831_checks_don-t-be-put-off-by-people-who-know-what_2634542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/paul-hawken-3831_checks_don-t-be-put-off-by-people-who-know-what_2634542.jpg) > “Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.” [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages acting despite doubts, testing limits only after effort, not before. **In simple terms:** Act first, judge results later. Key Takeaway Take action, then evaluate feasibility. Themes determination innovation risk-taking Mood motivational optimistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - starting a project - overcoming self-doubt - creative problem solving Key Concepts entrepreneurship psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What would you attempt if fear weren’t a factor? - How can you measure success after acting? A Different Perspective Progress may be hindered if fear stops you before trying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Check Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/check-impossible-2217036/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Know Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-possible-550747/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Check](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-check-1256527/) [Never giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-giving-up/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) ## Related quotes > [What your soul needs is a check up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-brandt/what-your-soul-needs-is-a-check-up/) [Henry R Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-brandt/) > [Never give up on something you love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/never-give-up-on-something-you-love/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [Gaining energy is accomplished by meditating, by right actions, right thoughts, right deeds, by studying with a real teacher or by just studying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/gaining-energy-is-accomplished-by-meditating-by-right-actions-right/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Never give up on your child. But also, you have to love your child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-bridges/never-give-up-on-your-child-but-also-you-have-to-love-your-child/) [Todd Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-bridges/) > [I'd like to do more dramatic roles but I would never give up comedy to do it. I've seen a lot of actors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-biggs/i-d-like-to-do-more-dramatic-roles-but-i-would-never-give-up-comedy/) [Jason Biggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-biggs/) > [If you FAIL, never give up because F.A.I.L. means "First Attempt in Learning". END is not the end; in fact E.N.D. means "Effort Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/if-you-fail-never-give-up-because-f-a-i-l-means-first-attempt-in/) [Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/) > [I just never give up. I fight to the end. You can't go out and say, 'I want a bag of never-say-die spirit.' 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On the other hand, we learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/on-one-hand-we-know-that-everything-happens-for-a-reason-and-there/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [One thing you can say about nuclear power: the people who believe it is the silver bullet for America's energy problems never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/one-thing-you-can-say-about-nuclear-power-the-people-who-believe-it/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [If your plan isn't working, adjust your plan. Never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-martin/if-your-plan-isn-t-working-adjust-your-plan-never-give-up/) [Matt Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-martin/) > [Paper or razor blade, never give up And just remember just to hold out more A couple years ago I couldn't just control that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/paper-or-razor-blade-never-give-up-and-just-remember-just-to-hold-out/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [I promise I shall never give up, and that I'll die yelling & laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-promise-i-shall-never-give-up-and-that-i-ll-die-yelling-laughing/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [With the great people that you work with, it's that they're never giving up and they're never thinking something's finished until they've really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/with-the-great-people-that-you-work-with-it-s-that-they-re-never/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) > [Find out whats possible, If you never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mahone/find-out-whats-possible-if-you-never-give-up/) [Austin Mahone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mahone/) ## More by Paul Hawken > [Information from destructive activities going back a hundred years right up until today is being incorporated into the system. And as that happens the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/information-from-destructive-activities-going-back-a-hundred-years/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [When the planes still swoop down and aerial spray a field in order to kill a predator insect with pesticides, we are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/when-the-planes-still-swoop-down-and-aerial-spray-a-field-in-order-to/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [The great thing about the dilemma we're in is that we get to re-imagine every single thing we do...There isn't a single thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/the-great-thing-about-the-dilemma-we-re-in-is-that-we-get-to-re/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Luck is earned. Luck is working so hard at your craft, service or enterprise that sooner or later you get a break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/luck-is-earned-luck-is-working-so-hard-at-your-craft-service-or/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Healing the wounds of the earth and its people does not require saintliness or a political party, only gumption and persistence. 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If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/if-you-look-at-the-science-that-describes-what-is-happening-on-earth/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [All is connected ... no one thing can change by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/all-is-connected-no-one-thing-can-change-by-itself/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [We can no longer prosper by increasing human productivity. The more we try to do, the more poverty we will create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-can-no-longer-prosper-by-increasing-human-productivity-the-more-we/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Throughout the industrial era, economists considered manufactured capital - money, factories, etc. - the principal factor in industrial production, and perceived natural capital as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/throughout-the-industrial-era-economists-considered-manufactured/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [his planet came with a set of instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/his-planet-came-with-a-set-of-instructions-but-we-seem-to-have/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Sustainability, ensuring the future of life on Earth, is an infinite game, the endless expression of generosity on behalf of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/sustainability-ensuring-the-future-of-life-on-earth-is-an-infinite/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) [Explore all 121 Paul Hawken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) ## More Checks quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) [Roxanne Shante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-shante/) > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. 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