The truth is, one’s vocation is never some far-off possibility.—It is always the simple round of duties which the passing hour brings.
—John Welsh Dulles (1823–87) American Presbyterian Minister
Every duty which we omit, obscures some truth which we should have known.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
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
Be not diverted from your duty by any idle reflections the silly world may make upon you, for their censures are not in your power and should not be at all your concern.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Duties are ours, events are God’s. This removes an infinite burden from the shoulders of a miserable, tempted, dying creature. On this consideration only can he securely lay down his head and close his eyes.
—Richard Cecil
When the soul resolves to perform every duty, immediately it is conscious of the presence of God.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Without duty, life is sort of boneless; it cannot hold itself together.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
I know of only one duty, and that is to love.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
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
It is the duty of children to wait on elders, and not the elders on children
—African Proverb
How can we know ourselves? Never by reflection, but only through action. Begin at once to do your duty and immediately you will know what is inside you.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a son.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
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 not collective; it is personal
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
The sense of obligation to continue is present in all of us. A duty to strive is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that duty.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The first duty of a government is to give education to the people
—Simon Bolivar (1783–1830) Venezuelan Patriot, Statesman
The rule of joy and the law of duty seem to me all one.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
The reward of one duty done is the power to fulfill another.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Insist on yourself; never imitate.
Your own gift you can present every moment with
the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation;
but of the adopted talent of another you have
only an extemporaneous half possession…
do that which is assigned to you,
and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Make it a point to do something every day that you don’t want to do. This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
God always has an angel of help for those who are willing to do their duty.
—Theodore L. Cuyler (1822–1909) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Writer
Can any man or woman choose duties? No more than they can choose their birthplace, or their father and mother.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
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
How can a man come to know himself? Never by thinking, but by doing. Try to do your duty and you will know at once what you are worth.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
We live in a world which is full of misery and ignorance, and the plain duty of each and all of us is to try to make the little corner he can influence somewhat less miserable and somewhat less ignorant than it was before he entered it.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
In common things the law of sacrifice takes the form of positive duty.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
The most beautiful things in the universe are the starry heavens above us and the feeling of duty within us.
—Indian Proverb