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If a man is determined to succeed in this enterprise and optimistically believes that he will succeed, his efforts will increase and be strengthened, chances will be taken from which he would otherwise shrink; and even if he falls short of his hopes, the going is likely to be farther. What Ramana Maharshi said to me at our first meeting is apposite: "That is the surest way to handicap oneself," he exclaimed, "this burdening of one's mind with the fear of failure and the thought of one's failings. The greatest error of a man is to think that he is weak by nature. . . . One can and must conquer."

-- Notebooks Category 1: Overview of the Quest > Chapter 5 : Self-Development > # 44