For what thou canst do thyself rely not on another.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Take responsibility for a task you can reasonably do yourself. The saying encourages initiative but overstates it if all reliance on others is treated as failure.

What the words are saying

The instruction places action with the person who already has the capacity to carry it out. It can discourage unnecessary delay while waiting for someone else. Cooperation and delegation can still be sensible, and limited time or energy may make assistance appropriate. A useful reading asks which responsibility is actually yours and whether doing it alone serves the task, rather than making independence an absolute virtue.

Everyday example

Someone completes a straightforward agreed task instead of repeatedly waiting for a colleague to do it.

When to use it

Use it to encourage reasonable initiative within one’s capacity.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.