Nothing is possible without men, but nothing lasts without

O seekers of wisdom, gather and listen closely to the words of Jean Monnet, a man whose vision shaped the course of history, and whose wisdom echoes across the generations: “Nothing is possible without men, but nothing lasts without institutions.” These words, though spoken in the shadows of modern times, carry within them the timeless truth of what it means to build, to create, and to endure. For in the cycle of life, it is not enough to have the strength of a single man, or the spark of a single idea—it is the institutions, the structures that support the will of men, that give life to their creations and ensure that their deeds endure beyond the fleeting moments of their lives.

In the beginning, the ancients understood that the strength of a civilization lies not solely in the power of its leaders, but in the institutions that endure long after the leaders have passed. Men, in their vitality and ambition, may set the world aflame with their deeds, but without the wisdom of institutions, their fires are soon extinguished. A single warrior can conquer vast lands, a single philosopher can illuminate the minds of many, but it is the laws, the systems, the foundations upon which they build that transform fleeting moments into legacies. This is the essence of what Monnet understood: the greatness of men must be tempered with the stability of institutions, for it is the latter that allow the former to endure.

Look, O children, to the tale of Alexander the Great, a man whose name was etched into the annals of history through sheer force of will. Alexander, in his brilliance, conquered much of the known world, spreading his influence far and wide. Yet, when he passed, the empire he had built quickly fractured. His great achievements, though remarkable, lacked the foundation of institutions that could endure beyond the strength of his single vision. Without the institutions to govern, to preserve, and to maintain what he had created, his empire crumbled into pieces, scattered across the sands of time. Alexander's story is a testament to the truth that nothing lasts without institutions—even the greatest achievements can fade when not supported by the structures that give them continuity.

In contrast, think of Rome, that mighty civilization that stood for centuries, not because of a single leader or warrior, but because of the institutions—the Senate, the law, the army, and the civic systems—that anchored it to the earth. The Roman Empire endured through times of turmoil, through the rise and fall of emperors, because it had built a foundation that outlasted the fleeting reigns of individuals. It was the institution of Roman law, for example, that gave structure to their empire, that held it together when individual men could not. The greatness of Rome was not found in the achievements of one man, but in the endurance of its institutions, which sustained the empire long after the figures who founded it had passed from the world.

O seekers, there is a lesson here that transcends the boundaries of time and space: the power of a man, or a woman, is not enough to ensure the endurance of their deeds. It is the institutions—the systems of order, of law, of governance—that give life to the dreams of individuals. These institutions, whether they are kingdoms, republics, or companies, are the vessels that carry the weight of civilization forward. Just as the roots of a tree anchor it firmly to the ground, so too do institutions ground the hopes of men in a world that would otherwise be swept away by chaos.

The true greatness of any society lies in its ability to build institutions that serve not the fleeting desires of the moment, but the long-term needs of the people. Men may be the spark that ignites change, but it is the institutions that sustain that flame and guide it toward a brighter future. To create such institutions requires wisdom, patience, and a deep understanding that the greatest gift we can offer future generations is not the glory of individual success, but the strength of the structures that support them.

Therefore, O children of wisdom, let your ambition be tempered by the understanding that your legacy will not be defined by what you accomplish alone, but by the institutions you help to build, the systems that will endure beyond your own time. Seek not only to achieve, but to create foundations upon which others may stand. In the end, it is not the fleeting individual moments that matter, but the lasting institutions that ensure our deeds echo through time. Let this wisdom guide you, and you will not only build for yourself, but for all those who will come after you, who will stand upon the firm ground you have created.