A magnanimous person is one who knows clearly the extent of their own capabilities, and gives fully of those capabilities without reservation. They hold nothing back. When the fruits of their efforts benefit themselves, they rejoice; when others, too, receive benefit as a result, they give gladly and wholeheartedly.
A person who does not know their own measure, on the other hand, is one who does not truly understand the scope of their own abilities, yet presumptuously undertakes great works far beyond their actual capacity — which, in truth, amounts to but a small handful. The inevitable result is failure to complete what was begun. This is what is meant by not knowing one’s own measure.
Let us rather aspire to be magnanimous as a mountain, and broad of heart as the ocean — so that we may employ whatever capabilities we possess to render the greatest possible benefit to humanity. When we set our hand to a task, let us give it our full strength — never holding back in reserve.
October 10th, 2019
