I am not sure where I first collected this quote but the more I think about it the more I see its relevance to effective management.
To me it means that wherever there is a great strength there is also a great weakness. You cannot have one without the other. Ying and Yang. I think this relates to a Jungian concept that whatever light shows us our way forward will always cast a corresponding shadow.
If this is the case then it becomes impossible to minimise a weakness without compromising the strength with which it is paired.
It also means that whenever we see a weakness we should look for the corresponding strength. This is important because so many managers become almost obsessed by fixing problems rather than by celebrating and maximising strengths.
So when you find yourself recognising a weakness in yourself or others – spend a few moments looking for the corresponding strength.