Ask of

The following sentence was said by an anti-apartheid hero \, Nelson Mandela at the

He never *asked of* others what he was not prepared to do.

Would anyone tell me waht that mean?

He never requested that someone do something that he himself would not do or be able to do.

Can the *of* be omitted?

Thanks

I would say not. I think the 'of' is obligatory here. It is a subtle point, but one that is necessary I think. What do others say?

DFG

To "ask" someone something, and to "ask of" someone something are two very different things. To ask is to inquire, to pose a question. To ask of is to make a demand, to request a duty.