Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections both within and without. It is not desirable that a man be left without knowledge or skills, for he is then but a barren tree. Then, so much as capacity and capability allow, ye needs must deck the tree of being with fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech.
(Baha'u'llah: Baha'i Education, Page: 247)
Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the day, and strain every nerve to carry forward the divine civilization.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: The Arts, Page: 6)
O ye friends of God, redouble your efforts, strain every nerve, till ye triumph in your servitude to the Ancient Beauty, the Manifest Light, and become the cause of spreading far and wide the rays of the Day-Star of Truth. Breathe ye into the world's worn and wasted body the fresh breath of life, and in the furrows of every region sow ye holy seed.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, Page: 271)
the word "strain" makes me feel of "pain" and "suffering". to me it means feeling a little pain of "i cannot do it anymore" but still trying to go a bit beyond of what is possible. not under estimating capacities but building them along the way.
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