The reward of one duty done is the power to fulfill another.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
New occasions teach new duties.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
I know of only one duty, and that is to love.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
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
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
Rank imposes obligation.
—Anonymous
I once felt all that kind of anger, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, Well! give me peace in my day. Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace; and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Every duty which we omit, obscures some truth which we should have known.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Duty is carrying on promptly and faithfully the affairs now before you.—It is to fulfill the claims of today.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
How do you know if your mission in life is finished? If you’re still alive, it isn’t.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
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
The best security for people’s doing their duty is that they should not know anything else to do.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
The difference between goals and mission is reflected in the difference between I want to get married and I want to have a successful marriage.
—Unknown
The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
The first duty of life is to be as artificial as possible. What the second duty is no one as yet discovered.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
This is the feeling that gives a man true courage—the feeling that he has a work to do at all costs; the sense of duty.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Make your life a mission—not an intermission.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
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
Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Infinite striving to be the best is man’s duty, it is it’s own reward. Everything else is in God’s hands.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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
When law and duty are one, united by religion, you never become fully conscious, fully aware of yourself. You are always a little less than an individual.
—Frank Herbert (1920–86) American Science Fiction Writer
Possession without obligation to the object possessed approaches felicity.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
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
We are apt to mistake our vocation in looking out of the way for occasions to exercise great and rare virtues, and stepping over the ordinary ones which lie directly in the road before us. When we read we fancy we could be martyrs; when we come to act we find we cannot bear a provoking word.
—Hannah More
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
The first duty of a man is the seeking after and the investigation of truth.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, 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
We must find our duties in what comes to us, not in what we imagine might have been.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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