--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where's the sense in promising to achive…" description: "\"“Where's the sense in promising to achive the achievable?”\" — Terry Pratchett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg" --- # Where's the sense in promising to achive the achievable? ![“Where's the sense in promising to achive the achievable?” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg) > ““Where's the sense in promising to achive the achievable?”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning the value of setting goals that are already within reach, implying that ambition should stretch beyond the obvious. **In simple terms:** Avoid promising the obvious. Key Takeaway True ambition seeks unattainable challenges. Themes motivation goal‑setting ambition Mood wry thoughtful Type aphoristic humorous When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - educational curricula Key Concepts psychology of achievement Practical Applications - set stretch goals - focus on growth rather than certainty Questions to Reflect On - When is it useful to promise the achievable? - How does over‑promising affect credibility? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievable/) ## Related quotes > [Having an economy that works for the 99% is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/having-an-economy-that-works-for-the-99-is-achievable/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [At the end of the day, nothing is achievable if you don't have the right collaborators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-berger/at-the-end-of-the-day-nothing-is-achievable-if-you-don-t-have-the/) Glen Berger > [I think libertarians need somebody who can articulate getting from A to Z. But you know, if G is achievable, how about it? Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-libertarians-need-somebody-who-can-articulate-getting-from-a/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as achievable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/the-reason-most-people-never-reach-their-goals-is-that-they-don-t-2/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [When the awareness of what is achievable brushes your life, your journey has begun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/when-the-awareness-of-what-is-achievable-brushes-your-life-your/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Its possible, achievable & you can do it. Keep pushing forward and follow your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/its-possible-achievable-you-can-do-it-keep-pushing-forward-and-follow/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Living true to your ideal self may seem impossible but if you work hard on it, you can see it is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-true-to-your-ideal-self-may-seem-impossible-but-if-you-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't dwell on your mistakes. Set achievable goals: a confident line, effective use of values, interesting shapes, exciting texture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/don-t-dwell-on-your-mistakes-set-achievable-goals-a-confident-line/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [I've always been very hopeful but I also know that as long as you've got a good work ethic, almost anything is achievable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-weston/i-ve-always-been-very-hopeful-but-i-also-know-that-as-long-as-you-ve/) [Simon Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-weston/) > [“I’m sure he doesn’t see it as aimless. We all have different goals. His are achievable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cotterill/i-m-sure-he-doesn-t-see-it-as-aimless-we-all-have-different-goals-his/) [Colin Cotterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cotterill/) > [“There is nothing in this world that you cannot do. Every goal is achievable. You just need to focus on your objectives, be persistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-roopleen/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-you-cannot-do-every-goal-is/) [Dr Roopleen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-roopleen/) > [Achievable goals are the first step to self improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/achievable-goals-are-the-first-step-to-self-improvement/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ Six Beliefs That Set the Course of Your Life 1. If you don’t believe the impossible can happen, then you are right. 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/six-beliefs-that-set-the-course-of-your-life-1-if-you-don-t-believe/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [A vision has to be within reach not in the air. It has to be achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhirubhai-ambani/a-vision-has-to-be-within-reach-not-in-the-air-it-has-to-be-achievable/) [Dhirubhai Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhirubhai-ambani/) > [With a little bit of common sense, anything is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-strawbridge/with-a-little-bit-of-common-sense-anything-is-achievable/) [Dick Strawbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-strawbridge/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Achievable quotes > [Having an economy that works for the 99% is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/having-an-economy-that-works-for-the-99-is-achievable/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [A vision has to be within reach not in the air. It has to be achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhirubhai-ambani/a-vision-has-to-be-within-reach-not-in-the-air-it-has-to-be-achievable/) [Dhirubhai Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhirubhai-ambani/) > [“ Six Beliefs That Set the Course of Your Life 1. If you don’t believe the impossible can happen, then you are right. 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/six-beliefs-that-set-the-course-of-your-life-1-if-you-don-t-believe/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Achievable goals are the first step to self improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/achievable-goals-are-the-first-step-to-self-improvement/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is nothing in this world that you cannot do. Every goal is achievable. You just need to focus on your objectives, be persistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-roopleen/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-you-cannot-do-every-goal-is/) [Dr Roopleen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-roopleen/) > [“I’m sure he doesn’t see it as aimless. We all have different goals. His are achievable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cotterill/i-m-sure-he-doesn-t-see-it-as-aimless-we-all-have-different-goals-his/) [Colin Cotterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cotterill/) > [I've always been very hopeful but I also know that as long as you've got a good work ethic, almost anything is achievable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-weston/i-ve-always-been-very-hopeful-but-i-also-know-that-as-long-as-you-ve/) [Simon Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-weston/) > [Don't dwell on your mistakes. Set achievable goals: a confident line, effective use of values, interesting shapes, exciting texture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/don-t-dwell-on-your-mistakes-set-achievable-goals-a-confident-line/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [Living true to your ideal self may seem impossible but if you work hard on it, you can see it is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-true-to-your-ideal-self-may-seem-impossible-but-if-you-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its possible, achievable & you can do it. Keep pushing forward and follow your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/its-possible-achievable-you-can-do-it-keep-pushing-forward-and-follow/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [When the awareness of what is achievable brushes your life, your journey has begun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/when-the-awareness-of-what-is-achievable-brushes-your-life-your/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as achievable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/the-reason-most-people-never-reach-their-goals-is-that-they-don-t-2/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [I think libertarians need somebody who can articulate getting from A to Z. But you know, if G is achievable, how about it? Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-libertarians-need-somebody-who-can-articulate-getting-from-a/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [At the end of the day, nothing is achievable if you don't have the right collaborators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-berger/at-the-end-of-the-day-nothing-is-achievable-if-you-don-t-have-the/) Glen Berger > [With a little bit of common sense, anything is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-strawbridge/with-a-little-bit-of-common-sense-anything-is-achievable/) [Dick Strawbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-strawbridge/) [Browse all 25 Achievable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Where's the sense in promising to achive the achievable?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive-the-achievable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive-the-achievable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/terry-pratchett-19_achievable_where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive_103255.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Where's the sense in promising to achive the achievable?” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Where's the sense in promising to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive-the-achievable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/where-s-the-sense-in-promising-to-achive-the-achievable/#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 } } ] } ```