english – Living, Learning & Teaching

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

👿 The Villain (The Victim): You say “I can’t do it because I don’t have money.”

You say “I’m too old to learn English.”

You say “I don’t have time.”

You stare at the closed door and cry.

You wait for someone else to open it for you.

The Result? You stay in the same place for 10 years. You become bitter.

You become the person who says, “I could have been great, but…” 🌧️

😇 The Hero (The Pathfinder): You see a closed door, so you look for a window.

The window is locked? You look for the chimney.

The chimney is blocked? You grab a hammer and break the wall!

You don’t have money? You use free libraries.

You don’t have time? You listen to podcasts while you sleep.

The Result? You achieve the “impossible.” People call you lucky, but you know the truth: You just refused to take “No” for an answer. 🔨

⚖️ The Reality: Talent is overrated. Resources are overrated. Desire is the only thing that matters.

💎 The Secret: Obstacles are not “Stop” signs; they are tests to see how badly you want it.

🧐 The Anatomy of the Proverb

This is the Golden Rule of Grit. It implies that if your desire (will) is strong enough, you will eventually find a method (way) to succeed, no matter how hard it is.

Where: In any situation or place.

Will (Noun): Not the future tense auxiliary verb! Here, it means strong desire, determination, or mental power. 🔥

Way (Noun): A method, a path, a plan, or a solution. 🗺️

📚 Vocabulary Vault

Determination (Noun): The quality of not giving up, even when things are difficult.

Obstacle (Noun): Something that blocks your way (a problem).

Resourceful (Adjective): Good at finding ways to solve problems. (MacGyver is resourceful!). 🛠️

Persist (Verb): To continue doing something even though it is difficult.

Inevitable (Adjective): Certain to happen; unavoidable.

🧠 Grammar Focus

Parallel Structure & Existential “There is” This proverb uses a perfect balance. It links a condition to a result using “Where.”

Structure: Where [Situation], [Result].

Condition: Where there is a will… (If strong desire exists…)

Result: …there is a way. (…a solution also exists.)

Note on “Will”:

Verb: I will call you. (Future)

Noun: He has a strong will. (Determination) -> This proverb uses the Noun form!

📜 History: Origin and Spread

This isn’t just modern motivation; it’s ancient wisdom.

The Origin: It was popularized by the English poet George Herbert in 1640.

The Logic: Historically, people believed the human spirit was stronger than physical reality. If you can imagine it, you can build it.

Global Cousins:

🇹🇷 Turkish: “İsteyen çaresini, istemeyen bahanesini bulur.” (The one who wants finds a remedy, the one who doesn’t finds an excuse.) — Perfect match!

🇪🇸 Spanish: “Querer es poder.” (To want is to be able.)

🇯🇵 Japanese: “Ishi no ue ni mo san nen.” (Sit on a stone for 3 years, and it will become warm.) — Focus on patience/will.

🎯 Impact on Life: The Pros & Cons

Is pure willpower enough?

✅ The Pros (The Fuel):

Innovation: When you refuse to quit, you invent new solutions (like Elon Musk or Thomas Edison).

Resilience: Failure doesn’t hurt you; it just teaches you “how NOT to do it.”

❌ The Cons (The Burnout):

Stubbornness: Sometimes there isn’t a way (e.g., You can’t flap your arms and fly). Don’t confuse “Will” with “Delusion.”

Exhaustion: Pushing too hard without rest can break you.

🎭 Short Story: The High Wall

Let’s visit our friends again, Penny and Max.

🌟 The Setup: Penny the Pig and Max the Mouse were hungry.

They smelled delicious fresh corn inside a garden. But there was a huge, 3-meter stone wall around the garden. 🧱

The Conflict: Max looked at the wall. “It’s too high,” he sighed.

“I am just a mouse. It is physically impossible to climb this.” Max sat down and cried. He had no Will.

Penny looked at the wall. She couldn’t climb either.

But she wanted that corn. She walked around the wall for 2 hours. Nothing.

She tried to jump. Failed.

The Action: Did Penny go home? No.

She found a small crack in the ground near the wall.

She started digging. She dug for 4 hours. Her hooves hurt. She was dirty.

Max laughed, “Give up, Penny!”

Suddenly… Pop! Penny squeezed under the wall through the hole she dug.

The Moral: Max focused on the Wall (The Obstacle).

Penny focused on the Corn (The Goal).

Max is still hungry.

Penny is eating lunch.

🎓 Lesson for English Learners

Don’t use this just for major life goals; use it for your English journey!

Advice on Speaking 🗣️

Situation: A student says, “I can’t speak English because I don’t live in America.”

You Say: “That is an excuse. You have the Internet, YouTube, and AI. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Find a way!”

Advice on Career 💼

Situation: Your friend hates their job but says, “I can’t quit, I have bills.”

You Say: “Start a side hustle. Learn a new skill at night. If you really want freedom, you will find a path. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”