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"A celui qui voit loin il n'est rien d'impossible"

English translation: Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing...


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:\"A celui qui voit loin il n\'est rien d\'impossible\"
English translation:Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing...
Entered by: Conor McAuley
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17:38 Jan 15, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Henry Ford quote
French term or phrase: "A celui qui voit loin il n'est rien d'impossible"
I want the version in English of this quote, but I'm not finding by googling, after trying many, many tactics.

I think it must have been mis-translated from the English.

Thanks in advance.
Conor McAuley
France
Local time: 13:31
Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing
Explanation:
“None of our men are 'experts.' We have most unfortunately found it necessary to get rid of a man as soon as he thinks himself an expert because no one ever considers himself expert if he really knows his job. A man who knows a job sees so much more to be done than he has done, that he is always pressing forward and never gives up an instant of thought to how good and how efficient he is. Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible. The moment one gets into the 'expert' state of mind a great number of things become impossible.”
Selected response from:

Celia Leroy
France
Local time: 13:31
Grading comment
Many, many thanks Célia (you saved me so much time!), and thanks to all.

I would even go so far as to say that connecting the text in English you had in your mind to the French version provided is the work of a genius! I wish you all the best in your translating career.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothingCelia Leroy
4 +2for he who looks to the future/thinks things through, nothing is impossible
Will Masters
3 +1for a person who is always looking forward nothing seems impossible
Susanne Goepper
4 -1wise is he who foresees the future
Gad Kohenov
2 -1all comes to him who waits
Wendy Streitparth
Summary of reference entries provided
Suggestion for tracking stuff like this down
Nikki Scott-Despaigne

  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing


Explanation:
“None of our men are 'experts.' We have most unfortunately found it necessary to get rid of a man as soon as he thinks himself an expert because no one ever considers himself expert if he really knows his job. A man who knows a job sees so much more to be done than he has done, that he is always pressing forward and never gives up an instant of thought to how good and how efficient he is. Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible. The moment one gets into the 'expert' state of mind a great number of things become impossible.”

Celia Leroy
France
Local time: 13:31
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many, many thanks Célia (you saved me so much time!), and thanks to all.

I would even go so far as to say that connecting the text in English you had in your mind to the French version provided is the work of a genius! I wish you all the best in your translating career.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cc in nyc: "Thinking always ahead [...] brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible." --Henry Ford http://www.quotegarden.com/goals.html // But why such low confidence? You have the quote. ;-) // Oh bother! But a tip for next time: include the URL ;-)
59 mins
  -> The low confidence is because I know the asker, and I know he never believes me, although deep down, I'm sure he knows I am always right ;-) Thanks cc will think about it next time.

agree  Sangro
12 hrs

agree  chris collister: This is indeed the original quote (from "My Life and Work", H Ford). Fortunately, I am not an expert in anything
15 hrs

agree  Rachel Fell: http://martingbedwards.blogspot.com/2011/05/henry-ford-on-ex...
15 hrs

agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne
17 hrs
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
for a person who is always looking forward nothing seems impossible


Explanation:
I am not a native speaker of english but in my opinion it's about someone who always tries to analyze things in an efficient way and never gives up - for such a person nothing seems impossible

Susanne Goepper
Local time: 13:31
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  LauretteT
13 hrs

neutral  cc in nyc: That's almost what Henry Ford said, but his exact words are needed here... It's a direct quote. ;-)
21 hrs
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30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
for he who looks to the future/thinks things through, nothing is impossible


Explanation:


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Note added at 37 mins (2012-01-15 18:16:13 GMT)
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People that think things through carefully (be it whatever they happen to be doing in the present, or something they would like to do in the future) tend to find ways to get around the obsticles that are faced. As a result, anything and everything is possible for them

Will Masters
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad: "for he who looks to the future" has the right proverbial ring to it.
3 hrs
  -> thank you :)

agree  Isabelle17
5 hrs
  -> thank you :)

neutral  cc in nyc: But where's the evidence that Henry Ford ever uttered this? // "It may not be the exact wording"?? But it's a direct quote, translated from English; the original exact wording is required here.
8 hrs

neutral  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: CErtainly has a better ring to it, but given that the original is by Henry Ford, the "version originale" is traceable and ought to be used, I reckon. PS Ever thought of putting yourself forward to reread a President's writings? ;-)
18 hrs
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): -1
all comes to him who waits


Explanation:
Not the best, I know, but maybe better than nothing.

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Note added at 11 mins (2012-01-15 17:50:44 GMT)
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All good things come to he who waits

is apparently the correct version

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Note added at 3 hrs (2012-01-15 20:50:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry - had overlooked the Henry Ford bit.

Wendy Streitparth
Local time: 13:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Also attributed to Violet Fane: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/27000.html. Thanks anyway!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tony M: But that's not a Henry Ford quote, it's an old (probably Biblical? or Shakespeare?) saying, and the meaning is really quite different.
11 mins
  -> Thought one could maybe bend it a bit!
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
wise is he who foresees the future


Explanation:
Biblical and not an exact translation but it conveys the meaning.

Gad Kohenov
Local time: 14:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  cc in nyc: The quote is from Henry Ford, not the Bible, and sounds quite different.
7 hrs
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Reference comments


17 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: Suggestion for tracking stuff like this down

Reference information:
The whole saying in French set in between inverted commas gets you a number of hits indicating that it is a quote from Henry Ford.


http://www.google.fr/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=fr&source=hp&q="A ce...'est+rien+d'impossible%22&pbx=1&oq=%22A+celui+qui+voit+loin+il+n'est+rien+d'impossible%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2502l4893l0l5484l3l3l0l0l0l1l765l1350l5-1.1l2l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=538d055ca2c54e&biw=1366&bih=643

Thereafter, a site with quotations gives a large number - too many - quotes by HF to read through. However if you stick "Henry Ford" in inverted commas, add "suotes" or "sayings" and then a couple of trick words you suspect might appear (thinking ... ahead..., for example), then again in a magic flash, Google churns up a number of soruces.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/203714.Henry_Ford

"“None of our men are 'experts.' We have most unfortunately found it necessary to get rid of a man as soon as he thinks himself an expert because no one ever considers himself expert if he really knows his job. A man who knows a job sees so much more to be done than he has done, that he is always pressing forward and never gives up an instant of thought to how good and how efficient he is. Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible. The moment one gets into the 'expert' state of mind a great number of things become impossible.”
― Henry Ford"

Hope this helps for similar saerches in the future.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
France
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 35

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Tony M: Great advice, Nikki! And a good find!
15 mins
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Changes made by editors
Jan 15 - Changes made by writeaway:
FieldArt/Literary => Social Sciences
Field (specific)Automotive / Cars & Trucks => General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters


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