Beliefs have the power to create and destroy, and honestly, that’s the secret engine behind every success story and every failure I’ve ever seen. It’s not just motivational fluff; it’s a fundamental law of human psychology that plays out every single day.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote means that your beliefs are not passive thoughts; they are active forces that literally build or dismantle your reality.
Explanation
Let me break this down from what I’ve observed. The “power to create” part is what we all love. You truly believe you can land that client, and your brain starts finding all the ways to make it happen. You become more persuasive, you spot opportunities you’d otherwise miss. It’s like your Reticular Activating System—the part of your brain that filters information—gets reprogrammed. It starts serving up evidence to support your belief.
But here’s the kicker, the part most people ignore: the “power to destroy.” This is brutal, but it’s real. A deep-seated belief that you’re “not a salesperson” or “bad with money” will actively sabotage your efforts. You’ll unconsciously make choices that prove yourself right. You’ll avoid the tough calls, you’ll misinterpret feedback, you’ll ultimately destroy the very success you say you want. Your mind works to make your outer world consistent with your inner beliefs. Always.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Wisdom (385) |
| Topics | belief (103), mindset (133), power (15) |
| Literary Style | succinct (151) |
| Emotion / Mood | provocative (175) |
| Overall Quote Score | 81 (258) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Tony Robbins’ 1991 book, Awaken the Giant Within, which came out in the United States. You sometimes see this kind of wisdom misattributed to generic “self-help gurus” or even ancient philosophers, but this specific phrasing is pure Tony. It’s the cornerstone of his whole methodology.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Tony Robbins (102) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! (44) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Born Anthony J. Mahavoric in 1960, Tony Robbins rose from a challenging childhood to become a leading voice in personal development. He started as Jim Rohn’s assistant, then built Robbins Research International and created globally attended seminars such as Unleash the Power Within and Date With Destiny. The Tony Robbins book list spans self-help, business, finance, and health, with several No. 1 bestsellers. He co-authored finance works with Peter Mallouk and a longevity guide with Peter H. Diamandis and Robert Hariri. Robbins’ foundation supports youth, prison, and hunger-relief programs.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1991; ISBN: 978-0-671-79154-8; Last edition: Simon & Schuster, 2013; Number of pages: 544. |
| Where is it? | Chapter: The Power of Belief Systems, Approximate page from 2013 edition: 142 |
