The plane knows nothing of your intentions to soar like an eagle. The plane knows nothing of your good intentions about being a safe, smooth, expert pilot. Carefully reading the checklist, actually checking the weather, applying the right rudder pressure, these are the things that count.
Don’t intend to be a great pilot. Just work on being a good pilot. The eagle thing will come.
(Pablo Picasso quote is from his ‘Statement to Marius De Mayas’, 1923.)
What a remarkable and powerful statement this is. I’ll try to remember it and apply it every time I’m in the aircraft