I think it should be called a lie because a pig is not like a day and people do not have skeletons in their cupboards.
The world is full of people who will tell you what you can't do. You don't need them. You already know what you can't do. What you need is someone to tell you what you can.
You have to be willing to work hard and stay focused on your goals.
In mathematics, as in life, the most elegant solutions often arise from a deep understanding of the problem.