“Who does the best his circumstance allows Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.” --Edward Young (1683-1765) From Night Thoughts (1742–1745), "Night II", line 91 #writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #edwardyoung This powerful couplet comes from Edward Young's "Night Thoughts" (1742). The full context - "If nothing more than purpose in thy power, Thy purpose firm is equal to the deed: Who does the best his circumstance allows, Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more." The passage is a profound meditation on mortality, time, and virtue that became one of the 18th century's most influential philosophical poems. Young wrote these lines during Night II, "On Time, Death, and Friendship," as part of a broader reflection on human purpose and moral striving. The passage argues that genuine virtue lies not in achieving perfection, but in maximizing one's efforts within given limitations, a radical democratization of nobility that challenges aristocratic notions of worth based on birth or circumstance. Young's message resonates across centuries: true excellence is doing your absolute best with whatever resources, abilities, or situations you've been given. The comparison to angels is particularly striking - even celestial beings, with all their divine powers, could do no better than their utmost. This levels the moral playing field entirely, suggesting that a person of modest means acting nobly within their constraints achieves the same moral height as anyone else doing their best. It's an early articulation of what we might call "moral meritocracy," where effort and intention matter more than outcomes or advantages.
“Who does the best his circumstance allows
Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.”
--Edward Young (1683-1765)
From Night Thoughts (1742–1745), "Night II", line 91
#writerslift #life #authors #love #art #coffee #diary #write #books #amwriting #quotes #edwardyoung
