"By imposing too great a responsibility, or rather, all responsibility, on yourself, you crush yourself"
- Franz Kafka
About this Quote
This quote by Franz Kafka speaks with the risks of taking on too much duty. When we take on too much obligation, we can become overloaded and feel crushed by the weight of it all. We can become so concentrated on our responsibilities that we forget to look after ourselves and our own requirements. This can lead to feelings of regret and insufficiency, as we seem like we are not doing enough. We can likewise become so focused on our duties that we forget to take pleasure in life and the moments that make it unique. Taking on too much obligation can lead to burnout and fatigue, as we are unable to keep up with the demands of our responsibilities. It is necessary to bear in mind that it is all right to ask for aid and to entrust jobs to others. We need to not handle more duty than we can deal with, as this can cause feelings of being overwhelmed and squashed.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"