--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The capacity of man himself is only…" description: "\"The capacity of man himself is only revealed when, under stress and responsibility, he breaks through his educational shell, and he may then be a splen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png" --- # The capacity of man himself is only revealed when, under… ![“The capacity of man himself is only revealed when, under stress and responsibility, he breaks through his educational shell, and he may then be a splendid surprise to himself no less than to this teachers.” quote by Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png) > “The capacity of man himself is only revealed when, under stress and responsibility, he breaks through his educational shell, and he may then be a splendid surprise to himself no less than to this teachers.” [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stress and responsibility can push people beyond formal education, revealing hidden talents. **In simple terms:** Pressure can uncover unexpected abilities. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to discover new strengths. Themes psychology education self‑actualization Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type educational motivational When to use this quote - career transitions - leadership development - personal crises Key Concepts growth mindset resilience Questions to Reflect On - When have you surprised yourself under pressure? - How to balance stress and well‑being? A Different Perspective Not all stress is beneficial; burnout risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Capacity Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-man-4664347/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Man Revealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-revealed-4664345/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Revealed Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealed-stress-4664346/) [Shells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shells/) [Splendid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splendid/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprise Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise-teachers-4664344/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Under stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/under-stress/) ## Related quotes > [I read an article on me once that described my machine-method of silk-screen copying and painting: 'What a bold and audacious solution, what depths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-read-an-article-on-me-once-that-described-my-machine-method-of-silk/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Use no word that under stress of emotion you could not actually say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/use-no-word-that-under-stress-of-emotion-you-could-not-actually-say/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I wrote my thesis on the benefits of war and very near got thrown out of college. But I can show you where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-young/i-wrote-my-thesis-on-the-benefits-of-war-and-very-near-got-thrown-out/) [Don Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-young/) > [Male love circuits get an extra kick when stress levels are high. After an intense physical challenge, for instance, males will bond quickly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louann-brizendine/male-love-circuits-get-an-extra-kick-when-stress-levels-are-high/) [Louann Brizendine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louann-brizendine/) > [Al Qaeda is not the organization now that it was before. It is under stress organizationally. Its leadership spends more time trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/al-qaeda-is-not-the-organization-now-that-it-was-before-it-is-under/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [Power abdicates only under the stress of counter-power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/power-abdicates-only-under-the-stress-of-counter-power/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [To me the early childhood story is an ecumenical one. You take poverty seriously. You take seriously maternal depression. You take seriously children under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-manne/to-me-the-early-childhood-story-is-an-ecumenical-one-you-take-poverty/) [Robert Manne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-manne/) > [Spiritual leadership ought to be given to those who have proven themselves under stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/spiritual-leadership-ought-to-be-given-to-those-who-have-proven/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [Men under stress are fools, and fool themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/men-under-stress-are-fools-and-fool-themselves/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/don-t-underestimate-the-value-of-doing-nothing/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [But it turns out that people who are grounded and secure don't change much under stress. That's what being grounded means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/but-it-turns-out-that-people-who-are-grounded-and-secure-don-t-change/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [Sometimes, counter-intuitively, it's easier to make a major change than a minor change. When a habit is changing very gradually, we may lose interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/sometimes-counter-intuitively-it-s-easier-to-make-a-major-change-than/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [The military profession, especially is the long-established great powers, is deeply pessimistic about the likelihood that people and countries will behave well under stress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwynne-dyer/the-military-profession-especially-is-the-long-established-great/) [Gwynne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwynne-dyer/) > [You can't just say there is a god because the world is beautiful. You have to account for bone cancer in children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/you-can-t-just-say-there-is-a-god-because-the-world-is-beautiful-you/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [You can't just say there is a God because well, the world is beautiful. You have to account for bone cancer in children. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/you-can-t-just-say-there-is-a-god-because-well-the-world-is-beautiful/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) ## More by Harvey Cushing > [“A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more than even the whole man—he must view the man in his world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/a-physician-is-obligated-to-consider-more-than-a-diseased-organ-more/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [I would like to see the day when somebody would be appointed surgeon somewhere who had no hands, for the operative part is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/i-would-like-to-see-the-day-when-somebody-would-be-appointed-surgeon/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [Nothing great or new can be done without enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the fly-wheel which carries your saw through the knots in the log.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/nothing-great-or-new-can-be-done-without-enthusiasm-enthusiasm-is-the/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [ Standardization of our educational systems \[which includes testing\]is apt to stamp out individualism and defeat the very ends of education by leveling the product… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/standardization-of-our-educational-systems-which-includes-testing-is/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [A certain excessiveness seems a necessary element in all greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/a-certain-excessiveness-seems-a-necessary-element-in-all-greatness/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [There is only one ultimate and effectual preventative for the maladies to which flesh is heir, and that is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/there-is-only-one-ultimate-and-effectual-preventative-for-the/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [In these days when science is clearly in the saddle and when our knowledge of disease is advancing at a breathless pace, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/in-these-days-when-science-is-clearly-in-the-saddle-and-when-our/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) > [Standardization of our educational systems is apt to stamp out individualism and defeat the very ends of education by leveling the product down rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/standardization-of-our-educational-systems-is-apt-to-stamp-out/) [Harvey Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) [Explore all 9 Harvey Cushing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. 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No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. 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I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) [Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dunne/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Never break another man's rice bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/never-break-another-man-s-rice-bowl/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) [Browse all 8,188 Break quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The capacity of man himself is only revealed when, under stress and responsibility, he breaks through his educational shell, and he may then be a splendid surprise to himself no less than to this teachers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harvey Cushing" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-revealed-when-under-stress-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Break" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-revealed-when-under-stress-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/harvey-cushing-45699_break_the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-reve_563106.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The capacity of man himself is only revealed when, under stress and responsibility, he breaks through his…” — Harvey Cushing", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harvey Cushing", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cushing/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The capacity of man himself is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-revealed-when-under-stress-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cushing/the-capacity-of-man-himself-is-only-revealed-when-under-stress-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```