The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do
“Frame” said Milton, “was the last infirmity of the noble mind.” Ordinary people must be much more amenable to this infirmity. The appreciation we receive for our achievement is a great spur and a powerful incentive to further achievements. Knowing this, we consider those things more worthy of achievement that people think we cannot do–because if we do them, we are likely to obtain more appreciation. The pleasure is obtained from public appreciation. Also, normally, man delights in doing what is difficult. If people say to a certain person that he cannot do a certain thing, he understands that it is difficult and he does it and has the satisfaction that he had achieved something big. There is another point. We are in the habit of accepting a challenge and meeting it. However, in some cases, the discouraging attitude may have a negative effect and the person told so may not attempt the thing people say he cannot do.
