He simply recognized and accepted his changing circumstances and his limitations. He did not want to take on more than he reasonably could.
بَلْ عَرَفَ حُدُودَهُ وَأَدْرَكَ أَنَّ ظُرُوفَهُ تَغَيَّرَتْ ،‏ وَلَمْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يُحَمِّلَ نَفْسَهُ فَوْقَ طَاقَتِهِ .‏ ‏