Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume

Marcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher, uttered words that still burn with eternal fire: “Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume that it is beyond the powers of man; but if anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also.” In this saying lies the essence of Stoic wisdom: never shrink before the immensity of a task simply because it feels greater than your present strength. What another human being has done, you too may accomplish, for you share in the same nature, the same reason, the same inner flame of man.

These words were born from hardship, not leisure. Marcus ruled Rome in times of plague, famine, and endless war. The weight of empire pressed upon him like iron upon his shoulders, yet he turned to philosophy not as ornament, but as survival. In the solitude of his tent and in the silence of night, he reminded himself that every challenge faced by man was also possible for him. His Meditations were not crafted for the applause of the crowd, but as battle cries for his own soul. Thus, his words are not lofty abstractions, but weapons forged in struggle.

The meaning is clear: when you stand before a task that feels impossible, do not say, “It cannot be done.” Rather, ask, “Has it been done by another?” If so, then it is not beyond human power, and therefore not beyond your own. The difference is not in possibility, but in discipline, patience, and courage. What one man can endure, another can also endure. What one woman can achieve, another may also achieve. To believe otherwise is to deny your kinship with all humanity.

Consider the life of Helen Keller. Born deaf and blind, she stood at the edge of silence and darkness, and all the world might have told her that speech, knowledge, and achievement were forever denied her. But through the strength of her teacher and her own indomitable will, she broke through the wall. She read, she wrote, she spoke, and she inspired generations. Was her strength at first unequal to the task? Yes. But was the task beyond the powers of humankind? No. And so she proved Marcus Aurelius right: what lies within man’s province lies also within each of us.

To believe in this truth is to cast aside excuses. The coward says, “I cannot; it is beyond me.” The wise say, “If another has done it, so may I, if I labor and endure.” This belief does not make the road easier, but it makes it possible. It summons forth a power dormant within the soul—the power of perseverance. In this way, strength unequal to the task becomes strength slowly forged for the task. For no man is born ready for greatness; he is shaped into it through striving.

The lesson is profound: do not confine yourself to smallness simply because greatness feels out of reach. Greatness is out of reach for all, until the hand stretches toward it. Marcus teaches us that the capacity of mankind is a shared inheritance. To belittle yourself is to dishonor your humanity. To believe in your kinship with heroes, leaders, and saints is to awaken the same fire within you that burned within them.

Practical action flows from this teaching: When confronted with a challenge, do not retreat. Instead, seek out examples of those who have endured the same trial, and let their lives be your proof that the task is possible. Break your labor into smaller steps, endure failure as training, and remember always that your strength grows with use. Let no task frighten you into surrender simply because you are not yet equal to it—know that by walking the path, you become equal to it.

So take this to heart, children of tomorrow: If it lies within the powers of man, it lies also within your compass. Do not belittle yourself; do not shrink from the labor. The heights others have reached are not denied to you—they are invitations. Rise, strive, endure, and believe that what is possible for humanity is possible for you. For in that belief lies the key that unlocks the greatness already waiting within your soul.