Those who gave thee a body, furnished it with weakness; but He

When the ancient Pharaoh Akhenaton declared, “Those who gave thee a body, furnished it with weakness; but He who gave thee Soul, armed thee with resolution. Employ it, and thou art wise; be wise and thou art happy,” he was offering a timeless truth wrapped in divine simplicity. The body, gifted to us through our mortal lineage, is frail, subject to hunger, pain, decay, and death. Yet the Soul, bestowed by the eternal Source, carries within it the resolution, the inner flame of endurance, courage, and wisdom. Thus Akhenaton calls us to remember that while the flesh bends and breaks, the spirit stands tall and unyielding.

The origin of this wisdom arises from Akhenaton’s reign as one of the most controversial and visionary rulers of Egypt. Known for elevating the worship of Aten—the sun’s radiance—as the singular divine force, he was a man who dared to challenge traditions and cast his vision toward higher truths. This quote reflects his belief in the supremacy of the inner spirit over the outer form. Where others honored the body through monuments and embalmment, Akhenaton placed his trust in the enduring strength of the Soul, believing it to be the true gift of divinity.

In the scrolls of history, we find many who proved this truth. Consider Helen Keller, born in darkness and silence, her body seemingly imprisoned by its weaknesses. Yet through the unyielding resolution of her Soul, she broke through barriers, learning language, speaking to the world, and becoming a beacon of strength for generations. Her body was frail, but her spirit was a fortress. She embodied exactly what Akhenaton proclaimed: that happiness does not come from the perfection of the flesh, but from the wise employment of the Soul’s inner fire.

To say the Soul is armed with resolution is to say that we are never truly powerless. Even in captivity, even in sickness, even in the face of death, the Soul retains its sovereignty. Think of Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty-seven years behind prison bars. His body was chained, but his spirit was not. He emerged with a will sharpened by suffering, leading a nation into freedom. The body was subdued, but the Soul was unconquerable. This is the essence of Akhenaton’s teaching: weakness in flesh is inevitable, but weakness in spirit is a choice.

The words also remind us that wisdom and happiness are not gifts to be found, but states to be cultivated. To employ resolution is to act with courage when fear beckons retreat, to choose endurance when despair whispers surrender. Wisdom arises when we allow the Soul, not the body, to guide our steps. And when wisdom governs our lives, happiness follows—not the shallow happiness of fleeting pleasures, but the deep joy of living in harmony with truth.

The lesson for future generations is luminous: do not lament the frailties of the body, for they are but dust returning to dust. Instead, honor the Soul, for it is the eternal treasure, armed with strength far greater than sinew and bone. Train the body, yes, but above all, discipline the Soul in courage, patience, and love. This will be your true armor against life’s trials.

Practical action must follow this wisdom. When the body falters—through exhaustion, sickness, or age—remember to breathe and call upon the Soul. Strengthen your inner world through meditation, reflection, prayer, and acts of virtue. In hardship, ask not, “Why is my body weak?” but rather, “How can my Soul’s resolution be employed?” In doing so, you will walk with the ancients, and your happiness will not be stolen by the passing storms of life.

Thus, children of the future, let Akhenaton’s words be etched into your hearts: flesh is weakness, but spirit is strength. Employ your resolution, grow wise, and through wisdom find happiness. For this is the path of those who rise above mere survival and step into the eternal rhythm of truth.