I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.

This saying is commonly circulated in English as a “Jewish proverb,” typically in devotional, self-help, and inspirational collections rather than in a traceable classical Jewish text. It reflects a religious-ethical sensibility associated with Jewish (and broader Near Eastern) wisdom traditions: hardship is assumed to be part of life, and the preferred response is inner strengthening—patience, resilience, and moral courage—rather than a plea for exemption from difficulty. In modern usage it often appears as a personal motto or prayer-like aspiration, invoked in contexts of illness, grief, persecution, or demanding responsibility, emphasizing endurance and growth under pressure.

The proverb frames hardship as inevitable and shifts the focus from wishing difficulties away to cultivating the strength to meet them. “Burden” suggests the weight of life’s trials—work, grief, responsibility—while “broader shoulders” evokes inner capacity: resilience, patience, courage, and moral stamina. The line implies a mature, disciplined spirituality: rather than praying for exemption from suffering, one asks for the character and resources to carry what must be carried. Its appeal lies in combining realism (burdens remain) with agency (one can grow). In modern usage it often functions as a succinct ethic of self-development and endurance.