The Man Who Thinks He Can – by Walter D. Wintle

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think that you dare not, you don’t.

If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t,

it’s almost certain that you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost;

For out in the world you’ll find

Success begins with a fellow’s will –

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think that you are out-classed, you are;

You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

to the stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later, the man who wins

is the man who thinks he can!

• What the theme of this poem?  How can you tell? The theme of this poem is to never give up and always have a positive mindset. I could tell because in the poem it says that if you think you’ve lost you have which means you do not have a good mindset. 
• What is the best line or lines from the poem to support the poem’s theme? Explain how it supports the theme. Well one line I like if the one that says life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. Another one is the one that says “If you think you are beaten you are,” They support the theme because they point to having a good mindset.
• Have you ever given up?  What could you have done differently to reach that goal? Yes, I have given up many times. Sometimes while just trying to figure something out at home or while trying to learn a new skill in a sport. What I could have done differently is just keep trying and maybe ask somebody.
• Why is better to have a positive outlook over a negative one? It is better to have a positive mindset other than a negative one because it give you hope and determination.