“Thinking” by Walter D. Wintle

 

I just discovered this brilliant poem.  I’m going to copy it and put it up right next to my copy of Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech.  I’m sure most of you Ricochetti are already familiar with this work, but for those who aren’t, enjoy:

“Thinking” by Walter D. Wintle

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

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost;
For out in this world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can!

 

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  1. StChristopher Member
    StChristopher
    @JohnBerg

    I love this!  This is the opposite of what the woke and the BLM movement is telling blacks.  They are telling blacks that they are victims and can not succeed.  

    • #1
  2. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Good one!  I thought it was going to  be a quote from Breaking Bad.

    • #2
  3. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Good one! I thought it was going to be a quote from Breaking Bad.

    Hahaha!

    • #3
  4. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    StChristopher (View Comment):

    I love this! This is the opposite of what the woke and the BLM movement is telling blacks. They are telling blacks that they are victims and can not succeed.

    This poem reminds me of that Stephen Wright joke:

    If winners never quit and quitters never win, what idiot said, “Quit while you’re ahead”?

    • #4
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Excellent, Stad. It could be my life’s mission! Thanks.

    • #5
  6. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Stad (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Good one! I thought it was going to be a quote from Breaking Bad.

    Hahaha!

    I didn’t have my glasses on haha

    • #6
  7. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Reminds me of the quote from Winston Churchill:  “Success is the ability to move from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”

     

    • #7
  8. Brian Wyneken Member
    Brian Wyneken
    @BrianWyneken

    My dad gave me this piece when it was my turn (6th grade) to recite a poem in class. He probably would have preferred some Ogden Nash but didn’t want me kicked out.

    • #8
  9. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Good one! I thought it was going to be a quote from Breaking Bad.

    Hahaha!

    I didn’t have my glasses on haha

    That’ll learn ya . . .

    • #9
  10. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Brian Wyneken (View Comment):

    My dad gave me this piece when it was my turn (6th grade) to recite a poem in class. He probably would have preferred some Ogden Nash but didn’t want me kicked out.

    The easiest poem to remember is likely “Lines on the Antiquity of Microbes,” by Strickland Gillilan:

    Adam
    Had’em.

    • #10
  11. dajoho Member
    dajoho
    @dajoho

    I believe Mr. Stad this belongs artfully done on your grandson’s wall.  

    • #11
  12. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    What a great find. As it happens, the day was also open in our July Group Writing theme: “The Doggerel Days of Summer.” I’ve credited this excellent post against the day for easy future reference.

    Interested in Group Writing topics that came before? See the handy compendium of monthly themes. Check out links in the Group Writing Group. You can also join the group to get a notification when a new monthly theme is posted.

    • #12
  13. Pony Convertible Inactive
    Pony Convertible
    @PonyConvertible

    My problem with the whole white privilege narrative is that it tells minority youth, they can’t.  That’s a terrible, and evil, thing to do.

    • #13
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