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“If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.” – Henry Ford
Quotes come and go like trends, long-winded quotes talking about love and the wonders of friendship, or short pithy sayings such as “Just do it,” which can literally mean anything. But on those rarest of occasions, a few words jump out at you and hold you still, igniting your mind and triggering your imagination. They are important words, worthy of consideration. Such is the case with the words spoken by the U.S. automotive industrialist Henry Ford. One of most influential businessmen in history, his reflections about business and life could fill a book, many of them dealing with success and its influence on our lives. This quote is no exception.
Clearly, this quote reflects Ford’s inductive reasoning. The line makes no assumptions, and makes a broad statement that one can apply to any number of situations. Mr. Ford, no doubt, crafted this quote after a lifetime of observing the strengths and weaknesses among individuals, and understanding the benefit of confidence. He took these observations and created his own rule about accomplishment, in the form of this maxim.
The statement is presented without reservation, equivocation, or room for misunderstanding, and relies on its conciseness to spark the imagination of the reader, a simple grain that catalyzes an entire cascade of self-reflection. It induces the idea, so tried and true, that a person is in control of their own destiny, and that belief in oneself is paramount to success. In this way, the phrase subtly invites the reader to examine his or her feelings of empowerment, and, if empowerment is lacking, to realize some guilt. With an inner sense of confidence and self-reliance, half the battle is over, and so much can be accomplished. Without belief in oneself, however, very little is possible. Insecurity and self-doubt often give way to guilt around squandered opportunities. Ultimately, this quote is meant to inspire those lacking confidence, and enhance the confidence of those already on their way to success.
The power of Mr. Ford’s quote lies in its structure. The repetition of the first two phrases -- differing only by an apostrophe and a “t” -- echoes that the difference between accomplishing a goal and failure, often boils down to something as simple as confidence. Additionally, by giving two possible positions -- thinking you can do a thing, and thinking you can’t do a thing -- and one answer -- you’re right -- Henry Ford implies that the answer doesn’t depend on either position, a powerful point in the structure of the sentence. So often, people are led to believe that their thinking is right or wrong, black or white. Rarely do you find an instance where, no matter what you think, you’re right. Additionally, this structure also adds a bit of ironic humor, as its single answer surprises the reader.
Often, the most meaningful advice is given in plain language. Such is the case with this quote, as it employs an unsophisticated level of colloquial words, allowing for a straightforward message. Yet, the depth of advice that can be extracted from this simple quote is loaded with meaning. When clichéd phrases about personal empowerment and inner drive are so common they have little meaning (“Shoot for the stars” comes to mind), Ford’s maxim manages to avoid these murky depths, generating a clear, forceful, and credible message.
A quote that manages this much insight, conveying an important idea with the simplest turn of language and phrase, deserves a great deal of respect, particularly when it hails from someone as distinguished as Henry Ford. Rarely does advice come along and speak to us so personally. Using witty structure and dry humor, Ford managed to pack as much, and perhaps more, into these few words as he did into his Model T’s.