the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
Sense 1
As much as one wishes to achieve something, the frailties of the human body often make it impossible. Sometimes extended to jocular or organizational referents.
Mong muốn đạt được điều gì đó nhưng cơ thể không cho phép
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Alternative form of the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Dạng thay thế của the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” mean?
As much as one wishes to achieve something, the frailties of the human body often make it impossible. Sometimes extended to jocular or organizational referents.
Is “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.