The Man Who Can

Published:

Thinking

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't,
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will—
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN.

Cover image for The Man Who Can - Editorial illustration on determination and mindset

For readers who prefer to listen:

Credit: These lines are from the famous motivational poem "Thinking" by Walter D. Wintle. The version given is the earliest recorded version, taken from a 1905 publication for the Unity Tract Society (Unity School of Christianity).