Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
It is better to do one’s own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Duty performed is a moral tonic; if neglected, the tone and strength of both mind and heart are weakened, and the spiritual health undermined.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
Duty is a very personal thing. It is what comes from knowing the need to take action and not just a need to urge others to do something.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
It is surprising how practical duty enriches the fancy and the heart, and action clears and deepens the affections.
—James Martineau (1805–1900) English Philosopher, Religious Leader
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
Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Duty is not collective; it is personal
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
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 performed gives clearness and firmness to faith, and faith thus strengthened through duty becomes the more assured and satisfying to the soul.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
Man is not born to solve the problem of the universe, but to find out what he has to do; and to restrain himself within the limits of his comprehension.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
It is the duty of children to wait on elders, and not the elders on children
—African Proverb
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
He who is false to present duty breaks a thread in the loom, and will find the flaw when he may have forgotten its cause.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
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
Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.
—John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) American Oil Magnate, Philanthropist
Love is a better teacher than duty.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
All higher motives, ideals, conceptions, sentiments in a man are of no account if they do not come forward to strengthen him for the better discharge of the duties which devolve upon him in the ordinary affairs of life.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
I declare my belief that it is not your duty to do anything that is not to your own interest. Whenever it is unquestionably your duty to do a thing, then it will benefit you to perform that duty.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
To what gulfs
A single deviation from the track
Of human duties leads even those who claim
The homage of mankind as their born due,
And find it, till they forfeit it themselves!
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Duty cannot exist without faith.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British 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
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
Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
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
Reverence the highest; have patience with the lowest; let this day’s performance of the meanest duty be thy religion.
—Margaret Fuller (1810–50) American Feminist, Writer, Revolutionary
The first duty of a government is to give education to the people
—Simon Bolivar (1783–1830) Venezuelan Patriot, Statesman
Who escapes a duty, avoids a gain.
—Theodore Parker (1810–60) American Unitarian Minister, Abolitionist
Never step over one duty to perform another.
—English Proverb
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