--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I believe my ability is small, then my…" description: "\"“If I believe my ability is small, then my efforts will be shallow and my push weak. If I think I am not capable, I will not try with energy. Without s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/stella-payton-24053_ability_if-i-believe-my-ability-is-small-then-my_629724.jpg" --- # If I believe my ability is small, then my efforts will be… ![“If I believe my ability is small, then my efforts will be shallow and my push weak. If I think I am not capable, I will not try with energy. Without strong belief, I won’t seek the knowledge required to achieve my goals. I will not launch out into the deep or push against obstacles with the force…” quote by Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/stella-payton-24053_ability_if-i-believe-my-ability-is-small-then-my_629724.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/stella-payton-24053_ability_if-i-believe-my-ability-is-small-then-my_629724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/stella-payton-24053_ability_if-i-believe-my-ability-is-small-then-my_629724.jpg) > ““If I believe my ability is small, then my efforts will be shallow and my push weak. If I think I am not capable, I will not try with energy. Without strong belief, I won’t seek the knowledge required to achieve my goals. I will not launch out into the deep or push against obstacles with the force that confidence brings.”” [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing you are limited leads to weak effort and avoidance of challenges; confidence fuels deep learning and perseverance. **In simple terms:** Low belief = shallow effort; confidence drives action. Key Takeaway Cultivate confidence to pursue goals. Themes self‑efficacy confidence motivation Mood determined inspired Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - academic study - personal fitness - entrepreneurship Key Concepts growth mindset self‑belief resilience Questions to Reflect On - What belief holds you back? - How can you build confidence daily? A Different Perspective Confidence alone may not overcome structural barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Achieve My Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-my-goals/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) ## Related quotes > [whatever you think that you will be. if you think yourself weak,weak you will be; if you think yourself strong,you will be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/whatever-you-think-that-you-will-be-if-you-think-yourself-weak-weak/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [When you have a disability, people think you are weak. They think they can prey on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-mitte/when-you-have-a-disability-people-think-you-are-weak-they-think-they/) [RJ Mitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-mitte/) > [Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/whatever-you-think-that-you-will-be-if-you-think-yourselves-weak-weak/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [No one is ever quite as strong or as weak as you'd think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/no-one-is-ever-quite-as-strong-or-as-weak-as-you-d-think/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Blessed are the weak who think that they are good because they have no claws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/blessed-are-the-weak-who-think-that-they-are-good-because-they-have/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“Think you are weak, think you lack what it takes, think you will lose, think you are second class - think this way and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/think-you-are-weak-think-you-lack-what-it-takes-think-you-will-lose/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [“Blessed are the weak who think they are good because they have no claws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/blessed-are-the-weak-who-think-they-are-good-because-they-have-no/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Dictatorships are never as strong as they think they are, and people are never as weak as they think they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/dictatorships-are-never-as-strong-as-they-think-they-are-and-people/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“When you were a child, you used to run to me for protection. Now, in moments of weakness, I want to hide my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/when-you-were-a-child-you-used-to-run-to-me-for-protection-now-in/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“Let us remind our poor men folk in deed and song: There are two types of men in this womanly world: Those who know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-strax/let-us-remind-our-poor-men-folk-in-deed-and-song-there-are-two-types/) Philip Strax > [“I forgive them because they're human and weak. The longer I live, the more I am overwhelmed by the utter, utter weakness of men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-forgive-them-because-they-re-human-and-weak-the-longer-i-live-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [You Are Not As Weak As You Think, You Are Not As Ugly As You Think, You Are Not As Stupid As You Think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubhanshu-tiwari/you-are-not-as-weak-as-you-think-you-are-not-as-ugly-as-you-think-you/) [Shubhanshu Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubhanshu-tiwari/) > [I've always been very independent and driven to make my own money and to achieve my goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-ve-always-been-very-independent-and-driven-to-make-my-own-money-and/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [My size should not define who I am and nor can it limit me to achieve my goals. I am limitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-adeniyi/my-size-should-not-define-who-i-am-and-nor-can-it-limit-me-to-achieve/) [Faith Adeniyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-adeniyi/) ## More by Stella Payton > [“When bodies talk, a hand brushing across a face declares love the tongue never speaks. When bodies talk, eyes make promises and lips keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/when-bodies-talk-a-hand-brushing-across-a-face-declares-love-the/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Allocate your resources wisely for all men have been endowed with abilities that are more than sufficient to accomplish even the greatest of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/allocate-your-resources-wisely-for-all-men-have-been-endowed-with/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Change is like the skin peeling off of a snake. It is slow. It is sticky. And sometimes you have to rub against a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/change-is-like-the-skin-peeling-off-of-a-snake-it-is-slow-it-is/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Value all relationships for the lessons they teach. Make sure you learn the lessons well. If not you will repeat those mistakes over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/value-all-relationships-for-the-lessons-they-teach-make-sure-you/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Beautiful is the man who leaves a legacy that of shared love and life. It is he who transfers meaning, assigns significance and conveys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/beautiful-is-the-man-who-leaves-a-legacy-that-of-shared-love-and-life/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Whatever you believe to be true, whether it is true or not; if you believe it, then to you it becomes the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/whatever-you-believe-to-be-true-whether-it-is-true-or-not-if-you/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“What dreams lie dormant hidden in the womb of your soul, quietly waiting, incubating seeking opportunity to come forth? Like the female cycle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/what-dreams-lie-dormant-hidden-in-the-womb-of-your-soul-quietly/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Nothing kills creativity so well as a big dose of negativity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/nothing-kills-creativity-so-well-as-a-big-dose-of-negativity/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“People take ownership of sickness and disease by saying things like MY high blood pressure MY diabetes, MY heart disease, MY depression, MY! MY!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/people-take-ownership-of-sickness-and-disease-by-saying-things-like/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“It is a dangerous position to be in when you can't see, can't hear and won't listen...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/it-is-a-dangerous-position-to-be-in-when-you-can-t-see-can-t-hear-and/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“In the effort to reach the stars and change the world, make sure you touch a heart and change a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/in-the-effort-to-reach-the-stars-and-change-the-world-make-sure-you/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Its all about perspective, that is how you look at things. Your own thoughts and outlook defines whether an experience, event, situation whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/its-all-about-perspective-that-is-how-you-look-at-things-your-own/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Self-correction makes me check the ruler of my life against the yardstick of my inner voice. I acknowledge when I don’t measure up. Self-correction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/self-correction-makes-me-check-the-ruler-of-my-life-against-the/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Service is not something you do. It is something you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/service-is-not-something-you-do-it-is-something-you-are/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [“Radiate peace. Who knows? The peace you spread may create the only restful place in your environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/radiate-peace-who-knows-the-peace-you-spread-may-create-the-only/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) [Explore all 25 Stella Payton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) ## 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": "“If I believe my ability is small, then my efforts will be shallow and my push weak. 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