--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have assumed any character beyond…" description: "\"“If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported.”\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/epictetus-413_character_if-you-have-assumed-any-character-beyond_1200926.jpg" --- # If you have assumed any character beyond your strength… ![“If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/epictetus-413_character_if-you-have-assumed-any-character-beyond_1200926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/epictetus-413_character_if-you-have-assumed-any-character-beyond_1200926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/epictetus-413_character_if-you-have-assumed-any-character-beyond_1200926.jpg) > ““If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported.”” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assuming a role beyond one's capabilities leads to self‑demeanor and abandonment of one's true strengths. **In simple terms:** Taking on too much harms self‑respect. Key Takeaway Stay within your true strengths. Themes self‑knowledge humility integrity Mood thoughtful serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - team leadership - personal development Key Concepts stoicism self‑assessment personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Are you overestimating your abilities? - How can you align tasks with strengths? A Different Perspective Overreliance on self‑assessment may limit growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumed Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumed-character-3209984/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Demeaned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demeaned-663375/) [Demeaned Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demeaned-ill-3601683/) [Quitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quitted-3601685/) [Stoicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoicism/) [Strength Demeaned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-demeaned-3601684/) ## Related quotes > [If you have assumed a character above your strength, you have both acted in this matter in an unbecoming way, and you have neglected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-have-assumed-a-character-above-your-strength-you-have-both/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes principles must be quitted without blinking en eye to discover the new paths!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/sometimes-principles-must-be-quitted-without-blinking-en-eye-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [When someone admits one and rejects another which is equally in accordance with the appearances, it is clear that he has quitted all physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/when-someone-admits-one-and-rejects-another-which-is-equally-in/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Giving up is like going into the self destruction mode, you will always gonna regret that you Quitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mubinamunir/giving-up-is-like-going-into-the-self-destruction-mode-you-will/) [MubinAMunir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mubinamunir/) > [But I want you to know, and I want you to have it very clear that I did NOT quit on each and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-gutierrez/but-i-want-you-to-know-and-i-want-you-to-have-it-very-clear-that-i/) [Oscar Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-gutierrez/) > [I quitted my Seat in the House of Delegates, from a Conviction that I was no longer able to do any essential Service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/i-quitted-my-seat-in-the-house-of-delegates-from-a-conviction-that-i/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [“And, what's more, this 'precious' body, the very same that is hooted and honked at, demeaned both in daily life as well as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/and-what-s-more-this-precious-body-the-very-same-that-is-hooted-and/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [“You have chastised me, demeaned me and dismantled me, before bringing me back to life. Who would have thought all of this was possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-brandon/you-have-chastised-me-demeaned-me-and-dismantled-me-before-bringing/) [Felicity Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-brandon/) > [“Dubnus. Brother. I wouldn’t have amounted to anything better than a rotting corpse in a ditch on the road south from Yew Grove without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-riches/dubnus-brother-i-wouldn-t-have-amounted-to-anything-better-than-a/) [Anthony Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-riches/) > [And, what's more, this 'precious' body, the very same that is hooted and honked at, demeaned both in daily life as well as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/and-what-s-more-this-precious-body-the-very-same-that-is-hooted-and-2/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [“Ellie crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not sure that ‘Bitch, get the fuck on your knees and suck me’ should be considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-sheehan/ellie-crossed-her-arms-over-her-chest-i-m-not-sure-that-bitch-get-the/) [Madeline Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-sheehan/) > [At concerts I felt demeaned, like a vaudevillian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-gould/at-concerts-i-felt-demeaned-like-a-vaudevillian/) [Glenn Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-gould/) > [Meanness demeans the demeaner far more than the demeaned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/meanness-demeans-the-demeaner-far-more-than-the-demeaned/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“For in this Case, we are not to give Credit to the Many, who say, that none ought to be educated but the Free;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-in-this-case-we-are-not-to-give-credit-to-the-many-who-say-that/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“What would Heracles have been if he had said, "How am I to prevent a big lion from appearing, or a big boar, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-would-heracles-have-been-if-he-had-said-how-am-i-to-prevent-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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