When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it.

The remark frames skepticism and discouragement as a counterintuitive source of motivation: being told something is impossible can provoke a stubborn, experimental impulse to prove otherwise. In Margaret Chase Smith’s public life—marked by repeated “firsts” for women in U.S. national politics and a reputation for independence—the sentiment aligns with a broader ethic of self-reliance and contrarian courage. The quote also hints at a pragmatic psychology: external doubt can clarify one’s resolve, turning a negative social signal into a personal challenge. Its appeal lies in its plainspoken endorsement of persistence without romanticizing struggle; it simply describes a human reaction that can be harnessed into action.