They are the weakest, however strong, who have no faith in themselves or their own powers.

Bovee argues that the decisive measure of strength is internal rather than external. A person may possess physical power, status, or talent, yet remain “weak” if they lack faith in their own capacity to act, endure, or improve. The aphorism treats self-trust as a prerequisite for effective agency: without it, resources and abilities go unused or collapse under pressure. At the same time, the line implies that confidence is not mere bravado but a stabilizing conviction that one’s powers can be brought to bear. The moral is practical—cultivate self-belief to convert potential strength into real strength.