--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are born male. We must learn to be…" description: "\"We are born male. We must learn to be men. Remember, strength is a force. It is an attribute of the heart. Its opposite is not weakness and fear, but c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/kent-nerburn-10008_able_we-are-born-male-we-must-learn-to-be-men_2689729.jpg" --- # We are born male. We must learn to be men. Remember… ![“We are born male. We must learn to be men. Remember, strength is a force. It is an attribute of the heart. Its opposite is not weakness and fear, but confusion, lack of clarity, and lack of sound intention. If you are able to discern the path with heart and follow it even when at the moment it…” quote by Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/kent-nerburn-10008_able_we-are-born-male-we-must-learn-to-be-men_2689729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/kent-nerburn-10008_able_we-are-born-male-we-must-learn-to-be-men_2689729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/kent-nerburn-10008_able_we-are-born-male-we-must-learn-to-be-men_2689729.jpg) > “We are born male. We must learn to be men. Remember, strength is a force. It is an attribute of the heart. Its opposite is not weakness and fear, but confusion, lack of clarity, and lack of sound intention. If you are able to discern the path with heart and follow it even when at the moment it seems wrong, then and only then are you strong. Remember the words of Tao te ching. "The only true strength is a strength that people do not fear." Strength based in force is a strength people fear. Strength based in love is a strength people crave.” [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True strength comes from heart and clarity, not force; love‑based strength is sought, fear‑based strength is avoided. **In simple terms:** Strength is heart‑driven, not forceful. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner clarity and compassionate power. Themes masculinity strength spirituality Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - personal growth - conflict resolution - parenting Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice heart‑centered strength? - What does love‑based strength look like daily? A Different Perspective Forceful power can still dominate societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Attributes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) [Be a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-a-man/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Crave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crave/) [Do not fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-not-fear/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-strength-753108/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Path With Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-with-heart/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-strength-302935/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-based-2648035/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao/) [Tao te ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao-te-ching/) [True strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-strength/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness and fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-and-fear-204177/) [Weakness Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-fear-1397342/) ## Related quotes > [Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. 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If you stand on principle, you'll never lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/just-remember-strength-and-courage-if-you-stand-on-principle-you-ll/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [“Some seasons don’t ask you to be strong — they ask you to be still, so you can remember the strength that was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roche-uccello/some-seasons-don-t-ask-you-to-be-strong-they-ask-you-to-be-still-so/) [Roche Uccello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roche-uccello/) > [“To anyone who has lost a parent, always remember that the strength of their love gives us all the strength we need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-funderburk/to-anyone-who-has-lost-a-parent-always-remember-that-the-strength-of/) [Joe Funderburk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-funderburk/) > [“Use your strength, but always remember that any strength may become a weakness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kateryna-kei/use-your-strength-but-always-remember-that-any-strength-may-become-a/) [Kateryna Kei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kateryna-kei/) > [When you are at your greatest display an act of kindness. When you are frail, remember your strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-fouche/when-you-are-at-your-greatest-display-an-act-of-kindness-when-you-are/) [Desmond Fouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-fouche/) > [The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-harder-the-conflict-the-more-glorious-the-triumph-what-we-obtain-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/weakness-fear-and-hopelessness-died-strength-power-and-courage-was/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from the expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-dorfman/self-discipline-is-a-form-of-freedom-freedom-from-laziness-and-2/) [Harvey Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-dorfman/) > [The concessions of the weak are the concessions of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-concessions-of-the-weak-are-the-concessions-of-fear/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-harder-the-conflict-the-more-glorious-the-triumph-i-love-the-man/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Ignorance makes for weakness and fear; knowledge gives strength and confidence. Nothing surprises an intellect that knows all things with a sense of discrimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/ignorance-makes-for-weakness-and-fear-knowledge-gives-strength-and/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [In any situation you can think of, impatience is a source of weakness and fear, while patience represents substance and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/in-any-situation-you-can-think-of-impatience-is-a-source-of-weakness/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The beauty you see in me, Is not the beauty others see, It's a mask of fear and strength, The mask you see, Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/the-beauty-you-see-in-me-is-not-the-beauty-others-see-it-s-a-mask-of/) [She's\_gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/she-s-gone/) > [“My manly strength will not allow me to choose a less unyielding material," Matt said. "I have rocks for muscles. You fear my strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/my-manly-strength-will-not-allow-me-to-choose-a-less-unyielding/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) ## More by Kent Nerburn > [We may not all live holy lives, but we live in a world alive with holy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-may-not-all-live-holy-lives-but-we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/remember-to-be-gentle-with-yourself-and-others-we-are-all-children-of/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“In some corner of your life, you know more about something than anyone else on earth. The true measure of your education is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/in-some-corner-of-your-life-you-know-more-about-something-than-anyone/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We live in a world alive with holy moments. We need only take the time to bring these moments into the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy-moments-we-need-only-take-the-time/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say while some fields will blossom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/remember-to-be-gentle-with-yourself-and-others-we-are-all-children-of-2/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [...Good leaders wait to be called and they give up their power when they are no longer needed. Selfish men and fools put themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/good-leaders-wait-to-be-called-and-they-give-up-their-power-when-they/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We wake up one day and find we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-wake-up-one-day-and-find-we-have-lost-our-dreams-in-order-to/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“What is needed is only a pausing of the heart so the spirit can take wing and be lifted toward the infinite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/what-is-needed-is-only-a-pausing-of-the-heart-so-the-spirit-can-take/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [It is not our task to judge the worthiness of our path; it is our task to walk our path with worthiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/it-is-not-our-task-to-judge-the-worthiness-of-our-path-it-is-our-task/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“You destroyed it with crosses and diseases and whiskey and guns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/you-destroyed-it-with-crosses-and-diseases-and-whiskey-and-guns/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [When you are here, you are here. When you are gone, you are gone. It isn't a problem to be gone, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/when-you-are-here-you-are-here-when-you-are-gone-you-are-gone-it-isn/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We measure our presence in generations; we cannot dig down ten thousand years and find our bones. Our arrival is scribed upon the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-measure-our-presence-in-generations-we-cannot-dig-down-ten/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“Now is the moment when I must pause and lift my heart — now, before the day fragments and my consciousness shatters into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/now-is-the-moment-when-i-must-pause-and-lift-my-heart-now-before-the/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [When all the words have been written, and all the phrases have been spoken, the great mystery of life will still remain. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/when-all-the-words-have-been-written-and-all-the-phrases-have-been/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“Loneliness is like sitting in an empty room and being aware of the space around you. It is a condition of separateness. Solitude is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/loneliness-is-like-sitting-in-an-empty-room-and-being-aware-of-the/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) [Explore all 68 Kent Nerburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. 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