If $E< V(x) $ everywhere, and if we assume that the kinetic energy operator $T=\frac{p^{\dagger}p}{2m}$ is a [(semi)positive operator](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_element), then the [TISE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_equation) implies $$ 0 ~\leq~ \langle \psi | T | \psi \rangle ~=~ \langle \psi | (E-V) | \psi \rangle~<~ 0, $$ which is impossible. Here $H=T+V$ is the Hamiltonian operator.