There is a famous Yoda quote from Star Wars which I, since I was a little boy, have always found disturbing:
“Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try” – Yoda
The quote is of course meant as a motivator but at least for me always seemed strange since most of the time I try to do stuff without ever really failing or succeeding. The premise that each problem is attempted only when a goal has been clearly established and the idea that success is dependant solely upon will and choice and never chance is of course moronic.