To whom nothing is given, of him can nothing be required.

The maxim argues for proportional responsibility: obligations and expectations should match the resources, opportunities, or authority a person has been granted. It pushes back against moral or institutional demands that ignore unequal starting points—suggesting it is unjust to blame someone for failing to produce results without being given the means to do so. The thought also implies a reciprocal ethic of governance and stewardship: if society (or a superior) wants accountability, it must first provide support, instruction, or tools. In that sense, the line functions as a critique of punitive judgment and a call for fairness in assigning duties.