Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to interpret the following sentence:

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

I know a few meaning of the verb interfere such as:

• To be or create a hindrance or obstacle.
• To perform an act of interference.
• To intervene or intrude in the affairs of others; meddle.
• To cause interference.

For all that I got in a difficult position by translating the above sentence into my natural language. Will you help me to turn the corner?

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

If you try to do something that you are not able to do [drive a car, for instance], it will interfere - prevent - you from doing what you can do [walk to the shops]

Hi Anglika,

Thank you for your distinct interpretation of the sentence in question.

Unfortunately I am none the wiser for it. The part the preposition “with” played remains obscure. As I mentioned above in my previous post the verb “to intervene” may mean “to be or create a hindrance or obstacle” and “to intervene or intrude in the affairs of others; meddle”. When used in the meaning of “to be or create a hindrance or obstacle” , the verb is followed by the preposition “with”. e.g.

There is something interfering with the telephone connection. I can’t hear you.

When used in the meaning “to intervene or intrude in the affairs of others; meddle” , it is followed by the preposition “in”, e.g.

If he had not interfered in the argument, his friends might have had a serious quarrel.

Would you tell me some more about the above-mentioned?

Regards.

V.