Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

The statement argues that genuine knowledge of one’s capacities (or of art’s possibilities) requires overreaching. “Going too far” implies crossing a boundary where failure becomes likely; yet only by attempting what exceeds current limits can a person locate the true edge of ability. The quote therefore reframes error and excess as instruments of measurement: without the willingness to risk collapse, one remains confined to the safe and already-known. In a broader ethical sense, it endorses courage and experimentation—whether in creative work, thought, or action—because the frontier of achievement is revealed only through ventures that might not succeed.