The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight; that he shall not be a mere passenger, but shall do his share in the work that each generation of us finds ready to hand; and, furthermore, that in doing his work he shall show, not only the capacity for sturdy self-help, but also self-respecting regard for the rights of others.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy, we sow anonymous benefits upon the world, which remain unknown even to ourselves, or when they are disclosed, surprise nobody so much as the benefactor.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Do the truth ye know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Christian Theologian
Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our mind strong and clear. Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals.
—Buddhist Teaching
Duty is ours; results are God’s.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
We ought to use the best means we can to be well informed of our duty.
—Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) American Politician, Lawyer
Where it is a duty to worship the sun it is pretty sure to be a crime to examine the laws of heat.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Political Leader, Writer, Editor, Journalist
Care not for time and success. Act out thy part, whether it be to fail or to prosper.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to, the last duty well done.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.
—Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic
Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
There is no evil we cannot face or fly from, but the consciousness of duty disregarded.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
It is an achievement for a man to do his duty on earth irrespective of the consequences.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
There are not good things enough in life, to indemnify us for the neglect of a single duty.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Duty is a power that rises with us in the morning, and goes to rest with us at night. It is co-extensive with the action of our intelligence. It is the shadow that cleaves to us, go where we will.
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a son.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Paleontologist
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty. I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master. I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living. I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs. I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order. I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-is of supreme worth. I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free. I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will. I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.
—John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874–1960) American Philanthropist, Businessperson
The first duty of a man is the seeking after and the investigation of truth.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Can you have more than one major MISSION pervading your life? NO. That would be like coming to a fork in the road and trying to go both ways by straddling it.
—Charles A. Garfield (b.1944) American Psychologist
This span of life was lent for lofty duties, not for selfishness; not to be whiled away in aimless dreams, but to improve ourselves and serve mankind.
—Aubrey Thomas de Vere (1814–1902) Irish Poet, Critic
It is worthy of special remark that when we are not too anxious about happiness and unhappiness, but devote ourselves to the strict and unsparing performance of duty, then happiness comes of itself.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
Consult duty, not events.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
A sense of duty is useful in work, but offensive in personal relations. People wish to be liked, not endured with patient resignation.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
By doing our duty, we learn to do it.
—Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800–82) British Anglican Theologian, Scholar
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Do your duty and leave the rest to the gods.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
All that any one of us has to do in this world is his simple duty. And an archangel could not do more than that to advantage.
—Henry Clay Trumbull (1830–1903) American Army Chaplain, Evangelist
Men do less than they ought, unless they do all that they can.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
When one has come to accept a certain course as duty he has a pleasant sense of relief and of lifted responsibility, even if the course involves pain and renunciation. It is like obedience to some external authority; any clear way, though it lead to death, is mentally preferable to the tangle of uncertainty.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
It is wonderful what strength and boldness of purpose and energy will come from the feeling that we are in the way of duty.
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Lawyer, Diplomat, Politician
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
Where duty is plain delay is both foolish and hazardous; where it is not, delay may be both wisdom and safety.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Our grand business undoubtedly is, not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Do today’s duty, fight today’s temptation; do not weaken and distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see, and could not understand if you saw them.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist