They tell me that it will be hard to find a man strong enough to

When Diana Ross said, “They tell me that it will be hard to find a man strong enough to love my own strength and independence, and not worry about being Mr. Diana Ross, but I disagree. I know absolutely that that man is somewhere out there,” she was not merely speaking of love — she was speaking of balance, identity, and courage. Her words reflect the timeless struggle between individuality and intimacy, between selfhood and partnership. They are the declaration of a woman who, standing at the height of fame, refused to believe that her greatness must come at the cost of love. With quiet conviction, Ross affirmed her faith that true strength — in herself and in another — could coexist, complement, and uplift, rather than compete.

The origin of this quote lies in Diana Ross’s reflections during the later years of her career, when she was often asked how her success and independence affected her relationships. As one of the most powerful female figures in music, rising from humble beginnings in Detroit to become a global icon, Ross embodied self-reliance. Yet society, bound by its old fears, often told her that powerful women are “too much” — too ambitious, too confident, too radiant to be loved without resentment. Her statement was both a rebuttal and a prophecy — a belief that love, when true, is not threatened by independence, but inspired by it.

This struggle between love and power is as old as humanity. The ancients told stories of women like Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war — both divine, yet often mistrusted by men who could not bear their power. The same story lives in every age: that a woman who stands tall must stand alone. Yet Ross’s words rise against this ancient myth. She believed, as all wise hearts do, that love is not about domination but harmony — that the man worthy of her love would not fear her strength, but celebrate it. Her independence, rather than diminishing her womanhood, made it whole.

To see this truth more clearly, one might look to the story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Though she was the ruler of the mightiest empire on earth, and he but her consort, theirs was a love built on mutual respect. Albert never sought to eclipse her; instead, he guided and strengthened her reign through partnership, intellect, and devotion. Ross’s dream echoes this ideal — the union of two equals, each complete in themselves, yet more radiant together. In her world of fame and scrutiny, such love may have seemed mythical — yet she refused to surrender hope. For in her heart, she knew that love founded on truth does not require the dimming of one light for another to shine.

Ross’s statement also carries a deeper spiritual wisdom. To believe that such a love exists — one built on mutual respect and emotional equality — requires faith not only in others, but in oneself. Her words are not desperate; they are serene, even regal. They remind us that strength and tenderness are not opposites, but companions. The woman who knows her worth does not demand submission from her lover, nor does she yield her power to please him. Instead, she stands with open arms, saying: “I will not become less so that you may feel more.” In this, Diana Ross became not only a singer, but a teacher — a voice for every soul, man or woman, who has been told they are “too much” to be loved.

And yet, her hope was not naïve. She acknowledged the difficulty of her quest — that many are still ruled by ego and insecurity. But she believed that love worthy of the name must be built on courage. It takes courage for a woman to remain herself in love, and courage for a man to love without fear of comparison. This kind of love is not for the timid; it is for those who see strength as beauty, and independence as grace. The man she envisioned — the one “strong enough” — is not a conqueror, but a companion; not a rival, but a mirror reflecting her greatness back to her.

So, my children of light and freedom, take this wisdom from Diana Ross: never dim your strength to make others comfortable. True love will not ask it of you. Whether you are a woman or a man, seek the kind of partnership that multiplies your power rather than divides it. Let your independence be your song and your heart your rhythm. And believe, as Ross believed, that the world holds a place — and perhaps a person — for those who love without fear. For love, in its truest form, is not about one light overshadowing another; it is about two lights burning together, making the world brighter than either could alone.