I always took it more as a sermon on defeatism and belief in one’s own prowess. The quote can be misleading out of context. But if you remember the entire scene, Luke is in a very negative mood. Saying over and over that he can’t lift the X-wing, that it is impossible, what is the point, it is different from lifting small rocks, etc. Yoda is trying to shift Luke’s point of view. There’s no difference between the small feat and the large feat, only that he doesn’t believe himself capable enough to do it. Yoda instead appeals to determination. Do it, failure is not even believing in doing it in the first place—remember the quote is not “success or fail”, it is “do or do not”. Lack of confidence and faith in the force is what is holding Luke back. The quote comes as a response for Luke going “ok, I’ll try” in a completely defeated way. Suggesting he already decided he will fail. Thus Yoda’s scolding, no, don’t try, do it, full send, believe. The unspoken corollary being, if you do it and fail, then just do it again, harder and using what you learned.
After Yoda demonstrates that it was possible, after all, Luke says “I don’t believe it”, and Yoda responds “that is why you fail”. The whole point is that believing himself incapable is what is holding Luke back, you have to believe and do the thing. Else you’ll always fail. You suck at playing the violin? well, do it anyway, that’s the only way you’ll get good at playing the violin. Saying I can’t play the violin will only set you up for eternal failure and you will never do it.
It is poignant because the film actually ends in a sort of defeat. The empire seems all powerful and impossible to oppose, but they do it anyway. Afterwards Han Solo is in carbonite, Luke was severely wounded, losing an hand. Hoth is lost, cloud city betrayed them. But instead of being downtrodden and defeated, they end up hopeful and ready to do it again, to face the empire and save their friends. Because they believe in themselves and the force. It is like, the point of the movie.
I always took it more as a sermon on defeatism and belief in one’s own prowess. The quote can be misleading out of context. But if you remember the entire scene, Luke is in a very negative mood. Saying over and over that he can’t lift the X-wing, that it is impossible, what is the point, it is different from lifting small rocks, etc. Yoda is trying to shift Luke’s point of view. There’s no difference between the small feat and the large feat, only that he doesn’t believe himself capable enough to do it. Yoda instead appeals to determination. Do it, failure is not even believing in doing it in the first place—remember the quote is not “success or fail”, it is “do or do not”. Lack of confidence and faith in the force is what is holding Luke back. The quote comes as a response for Luke going “ok, I’ll try” in a completely defeated way. Suggesting he already decided he will fail. Thus Yoda’s scolding, no, don’t try, do it, full send, believe. The unspoken corollary being, if you do it and fail, then just do it again, harder and using what you learned.
After Yoda demonstrates that it was possible, after all, Luke says “I don’t believe it”, and Yoda responds “that is why you fail”. The whole point is that believing himself incapable is what is holding Luke back, you have to believe and do the thing. Else you’ll always fail. You suck at playing the violin? well, do it anyway, that’s the only way you’ll get good at playing the violin. Saying I can’t play the violin will only set you up for eternal failure and you will never do it.
It is poignant because the film actually ends in a sort of defeat. The empire seems all powerful and impossible to oppose, but they do it anyway. Afterwards Han Solo is in carbonite, Luke was severely wounded, losing an hand. Hoth is lost, cloud city betrayed them. But instead of being downtrodden and defeated, they end up hopeful and ready to do it again, to face the empire and save their friends. Because they believe in themselves and the force. It is like, the point of the movie.