A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Where there’s a WILL, there’s a way

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  1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 730 To him that will, wais are not wanting. 1822 W. HAZLITT in New Monthly Mag. Feb. 102 Where there’s a will, there’s a way.—I said so to myself, as I walked down Chancery-lane.. to inquire.. where the fight the next day was to be. 1979 E. KOCH Good Night Little Spy xi. I’ve no idea how it can be done. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. 2002 Washington Times 26 Mar. A17 Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And the one thing campaign-finance reform does not do, because it cannot, is diminish the will to influence elections and politicians. ■ persistence; ways and means
  

will see also (noun) he that COMPLIES against his will is of his own opinion still; (verb) if ANYTHING can go wrong, it will; there’s none so BLIND as those who will not see; there’s none so DEAF as those who will not hear; what MUST be must be.
He who WILLS the end, wills the means

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  1692 R. SOUTH Twelve Sermons 497 That most true aphorism, that he who wills the end, wills also the means. 1910 Spectator 29 Oct. 677 We won a Trafalgar.. because we not only meant to win, but knew how to win—because we understood.. the maxim, ‘He who wills the end wills the means.’ 1980 Listener 13 Mar. 332 I could offer a text.. from Aneurin Bevan: ‘It’s no good willing the end unless you’re also ready to will the means.’ ■action and consequences; ways and means
  

You WIN a few, you lose a few
An expression of consolation or resignation of American origin, also frequently found in the form you win some, you lose some. See also the next entry. Cf. 1897
R. KIPLING Captains Courageous x. ‘Thirty million dollars’ worth of mistake, wasn’t it?
I’d risk it for that.’ ‘I lost some; and I gained some.’

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