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There is a philosophical proverb in Persian that says:

خواستن توانستن است

It literally means "To want is to be able to"

And it promotes the ethics of doing one's best and trying.

It encourages people to want things and to do what they can to enhance their capabilities in order to fullfil that want.

Is there an equivalent philosophical proverb/expression/idiom in English for this purpose? Because it seems that it's very universal and I expect English to have something similar.

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Merriam-Webster has this idiom

Necessity is the mother of invention

used to say that new ways to do things are found or created when there is a strong and special need for them

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"Where there's a will, there's a way" (Proverb)

idiom, used to mean that if you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult (Cambridge)

"Do or do not -- there is no try" (Yoda from Star wars)

Either you do something or you don’t; trying (and failing) doesn't count. [One] must have an extraordinary amount of self-confidence in order to achieve the improbable. (EarnestAssoc.com)

"You can get it if you really want it" (Ska song -- Desmond Dekker)

If you really want something-truly and fully- it's possible to achieve it and fulfill your desire.

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    – Community Bot
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 13:22
  • "Where there's a will, there's a way" turns up in several dictionaries. You could find a reference and explain exactly what it means, because it certainly fits the question.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 16:55

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