# What's the stupidest, least motivating, motivational poster/slogan you've ever seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319 "2009-06-01T04:51:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/21 "2009-06-01T19:54:20Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > A motivational slogan I’ve seen on promotional gear for the US Marine Corps: **Pain is weakness leaving the body.** :rolleyes: Every time I see this, I imagine a gang of thugs finding the guy who wrote it and saying, “A lot of weakness is about to leave your body.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/22 "2009-06-01T20:27:51Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Obviously, a naked man would simply kill a bear with his bare hands and cuddle up in the warm, steaming entrails. We Rhymers used to do that–even the girl Rhymers. Then my great-grandmother pointed out that it was better to find a pack of wolves and kill the alpha; the rest of the pack would then fall in line and become your willing slaves. Then great-grandma’s lesbian lover/submissive pointed out that if one did the bear thing, except in the town square, all the townsfolk would be intimidated into just giving you stuff. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/23 "2009-06-01T20:32:48Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > A motivational slogan I’ve seen on promotional gear for the US Marine Corps: **Pain is weakness leaving the body.** :rolleyes: > > I’ll remember that next time I get a migraine. The thing is, I can kind of understand what a lot of posters like this are trying to communicate, “Don’t be afraid to hurt when you physically exert yourself; it’ll pay off in the long run,” “Always expecting to fail can translate into self-defeating behavior,” and so on. The most misused, though, has to be _anything_ telling you to “give 110%.” I know, I know, you can usually exert yourself more than you think you can, but, good God, how I learned to hate this mantra when I played football. No, shithead, I’m on the verge of physical collapse here; I’ve played football for six years, I know my body by now, and short of literally killing myself, I’m pretty sure this is just about my maximum effort. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/24 "2009-06-01T21:35:02Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > **If I plan to learn, I must learn to plan.** Seen in various classrooms from elementary school to college. > [@Mystery Men](#): > > **Mr. Furious:** Okay, am I the only one who finds these sayings just a little bit formulaic? “If you want to push something down, you have to pull it up. If you want to go left, you have to go right.” It’s– > **The Sphinx:** Your temper is very quick, my friend. But until you learn to master your rage– > **Mr. Furious:** --Your rage will become your master? That’s what you were going to say. Right? Right? > **The Sphinx:**. . . Not necessarily. .. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/25 "2009-06-01T21:47:40Z")
Alluded to earlier: [Despair, Inc. - Demotivators®, The World’s Best Demotivational Posters](http://despair.com/lithographs.html) ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/26 "2009-06-01T21:57:45Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > From way back when… > > **THINK** Which reminds me of the Mad Mag parody: **THIMK** _ **- Jack** _ ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/27 "2009-06-01T23:22:20Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > I hate this one. The reality, in almost any life situation, and _especially_ in almost any business situation, is that failure **is** an option and should remain on the table. The alternative is to squander endless resources on hopeless causes. It worked pretty well with the Israel Defense Force, though. Whenever they’d get attacked (quite often), they’d say “There is no alternative”. Which was quite true, as all those other countries were trying to push them into the sea. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/28 "2009-06-02T00:59:59Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > > [@Student\_Driver](#): > > > > A motivational slogan I’ve seen on promotional gear for the US Marine Corps: **Pain is weakness leaving the body.** :rolleyes: > > Every time I see this, I imagine a gang of thugs finding the guy who wrote it and saying, “A lot of weakness is about to leave your body.” It gives me more of a serial killer vibe. I picture some creepy Hannibal Lector type holding up a glinting scalpel above someone strapped to a table and saying something like : \*“Pain . . . pain is weakness, leaving your body. I’m just going to purge you of your weakness, my dear.” \* ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/29 "2009-06-02T02:17:46Z")
I’ve always hated the cliche “If Life hands you lemons, make lemonade” as it seems to be implying life also handed you sugar, clean water, ice, and a pitcher, in which case making lemonade would seem a no brainer unless you’re diabetic or just happen to really like the taste of lemons. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/30 "2009-06-02T04:08:37Z")
**It takes Everyone to make a Democracy** A) No shit. B) We’re a republic, not a democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/31 "2009-06-02T10:31:18Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > The most misused, though, has to be _anything_ telling you to “give 110%.” These days in football, if you’re only giving 110% you’re not even trying. 120% and 1000% have been spotted out in the wild. The ulitmate demotivational slogan has to be “Arbeit macht frei”. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/32 "2009-06-02T10:46:02Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’ve always hated the cliche “If Life hands you lemons, make lemonade” as it seems to be implying life also handed you sugar, clean water, ice, and a pitcher, in which case making lemonade would seem a no brainer unless you’re diabetic or just happen to really like the taste of lemons. I happen to prefer my brother’s version: “If life hands you lemons, make whiskey sours.” I realize you’re still missing some ingredients, but the goal is so much better! ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/33 "2009-06-02T10:54:36Z")
My daughter has taken to quoting a commercial parody she saw on youtube, “If God gives you lemons, FIND A NEW GOD!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/34 "2009-06-02T11:07:21Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > A motivational slogan I’ve seen on promotional gear for the US Marine Corps: **Pain is weakness leaving the body.** :rolleyes: > > I’ll remember that next time I get a migraine. Hey! I use that line ALL the time with a variety of kids in my life. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/35 "2009-06-02T11:10:34Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > My daughter has taken to quoting a commercial parody she saw on youtube, “If God gives you lemons, FIND A NEW GOD!!!” This.is.AWESOME! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/36 "2009-06-02T14:19:06Z")
When I started a job once there was a photocopied “inspirational” story stuck to a cabinet near my desk - I think it had been left by a predecessor. Googling it just now shows that it was [The Crayon Box That Talked](http://www.skywriting.net/inspirational/poems/the_crayon_box_that_talked.html). I particularly disliked the condescending and sanctimonious suggestion that an enlightened person can show unenlightened people how to get along, and eventually binned the photocopy. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/37 "2009-06-02T14:40:56Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I happen to prefer my brother’s version: “If life hands you lemons, make whiskey sours.” I realize you’re still missing some ingredients, but the goal is so much better! My favorite is, “If someone gives you lemons, squeeze the lemons then find the asshole who gave you lemons instead of the oranges you asked for and throw it in his face.” ---
**Author:** ![Gcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gcat)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/38 "2009-06-02T14:47:22Z")
My Mom has one that says something like “If life gives you lemons, squirt the juice into the eyes of your enemy.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/39 "2009-06-02T14:56:40Z")
I always say “If life gives you crap, make crap-ade.” ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319/40 "2009-06-02T15:40:41Z")
On the wall of my TAC (my highschool’s version of a homeroom) in my junior and senior year: **Shoot for the Moon… Even if You Miss, You’ll Land among the Stars!** No. **NO**. No you will **NOT**. You will land in an \*airless void \*where you will die a _quick and painful death_. > [@gotpasswords](#): > > From way back when… > > **THINK** Wasn’t that always **THNIK**? > [@Sampiro](#): > > I’ve always hated the cliche “If Life hands you lemons, make lemonade” I always think of the [classic PA strip](http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2000/03/10/)… Gabe: You know what my mom used to say: “When life gives you shit,” you just… Uh.. Tycho: Make Shit-ade? What? Gabe: Wait, it’s coming to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-stupidest-least-motivating-motivational-poster-slogan-youve-ever-seen/498319.md?page=3)