知其不可而为之 meaning in English

know the trends cannot be turned back and still want to do it; do sth. even though one knows it is impossible to succeed

To know it 's no use , but keep on doing it -- there can be no greater folly than this .
知其不可而为之，愚不可及也。
But pierre knew nothing of that ; entirely engrossed in what lay before him , he was suffering the anguish men suffer when they persist in undertaking a task impossible for themnot from its inherent difficulties , but from its incompatibility with their own nature . he was tortured by the dread that he would be weak at the decisive moment , and so would lose his respect for himself
但皮埃尔是不知道的他专心致志于自己的事，仍然在受折磨，像执着于知其不可而为之的人们那样受折磨不是由于重重困难，而是由于天生的其事不当他受折磨是因为害怕在决定关头软下来，因而失去自尊心。