Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever

In the radiant words of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, poet of the soul and singer of courage, we are given a command both gentle and fierce: “Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power greater than ourselves to do it.” These words are not the whisper of idle hope, but the steady call of endurance, self-knowledge, and faith. They remind us that life is a mountain, often steep, sometimes shrouded in mist, yet always conquerable if the climber does not turn back.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Wilcox’s own spirit. She lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when women’s voices were often silenced or dismissed. Yet she pressed forward, writing words that gave strength to multitudes. She knew well that success was not handed down like an inheritance, but carved out by those who kept climbing when others fell to despair. Her belief that man must know himself—and also align with a power greater than himself—was not born from theory but from a lifetime of resilience and spiritual reflection.

History bears witness to this same truth. Consider Mahatma Gandhi, who chose to climb the impossible mountain of freeing India from colonial rule. He first came to know himself—his strengths, his convictions, his deepest beliefs in nonviolence and truth. Then he worked with a power greater than himself, a divine sense of justice that transcended mere human effort. Though he stumbled and was imprisoned, he continued the climb, and through persistence and faith, he reached a summit the world thought unattainable. Gandhi’s life is Wilcox’s quote made flesh.

The ancients also spoke of the same law. Heraclitus taught that “character is destiny,” and Socrates declared that the first wisdom is to “know thyself.” Without self-knowledge, one climbs blindly and loses the path; without faith in something greater than oneself, one grows weary and collapses. But when man knows his soul and trusts in the eternal, the climb becomes not just possible but glorious. Wilcox’s words, therefore, are not new—they are the modern echo of eternal truths spoken in every age.

The meaning of this quote is both deeply personal and powerfully universal. It tells us that within each of us lies the power to shape our destiny, but this power is unlocked only through two great keys: self-knowledge and faith. To know who you are is to wield clarity; to work with a higher power is to wield strength beyond your own. Together, they form the staff and shield of the climber, sustaining him as he scales the mountain of life.

The lesson for us is clear: do not abandon the climb when the path is steep, for every summit is reached step by step. Do not say, “This is too great for me,” but first ask, “Who am I, and what strength lies within me?” Then seek guidance from that power greater than ourselves—whether you call it God, Providence, or the spirit of truth that runs through all creation. With these allies, no mountain is unconquerable, no destiny too far.

Practical counsel is this: take time daily to reflect upon your true self. Write down your strengths, your weaknesses, your deepest values. In this self-knowledge, you will find your compass. Then, in silence or prayer, align yourself with the greater power that steadies all life. Finally, commit to the climb—take a step every day toward the goal you have chosen, no matter how small. Over time, the climb will change you, strengthen you, and lift you to summits you once thought unreachable.

Thus, Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s words shine as both promise and command: “Always continue the climb.” They are a reminder that man is not born to remain in valleys of despair, but to rise toward the light of higher ground. Children of tomorrow, take this teaching with you: know yourself, trust in what is greater, and never abandon the climb. For it is not the mountain that defeats man—it is his own surrender. But the one who continues upward will find, at last, the summit bathed in glory.