Possession without obligation to the object possessed approaches felicity.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
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
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
There is no evil we cannot face or fly from, but the consciousness of duty disregarded.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
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 before devotion.
—Mexican Proverb
Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Whether your time calls you to live or die do both like a prince.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Do the duty that lies nearest to thee.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Never step over one duty to perform another.
—English Proverb
The consideration that human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected will always continue to prompt me to promote the former by inculcating the practice of the latter.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
No human being, man or woman, can act up to a sublime standard without giving offence.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Do thy duty; that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
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
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
The first duty of love is to listen.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
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
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 Republican Public Official, Lawyer
There is no mean work, save that which is sordidly selfish; no irreligious work, save that which is morally wrong; in every sphere of life the post of honor is the post of duty.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
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
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
The duty of man is plain and simple, and consists but of two points; his duty to God, which every man must feel; and his duty to his neighbor, to do as he would be done by.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The surest method of arriving at a knowledge of God’s eternal purposes about us is to be found in the right use of the present moment. Each hour comes with some little fagot of God’s will fastened upon its back.
—Frederick William Faber (1814–63) British Hymn writer, Theologian
Happiness is the natural flower of duty.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
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
New occasions teach new duties.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Duty is ours; results are God’s.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
So nigh is grandeur to our dust, so near is God to man, when duty whispers low, “Thou must,” the youth replies, “I can.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
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
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
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
Duty largely consists of pretending that the trivial is critical.
—John Fowles (1926–2005) English Novelist
Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
For many years I was a self-appointed inspector of snowstorms and rainstorms and did my duty faithfully, though I never received payment for it.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
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
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
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
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
Do your duty and leave the rest to the gods.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
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
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
Duty is heavy as a mountain but
Death is lighter than a feather.
—Japanese Proverb
I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a son.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
Ours not to reason why
Ours but to do and die.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British 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
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
The reward of one’s duty is the power to fulfill another.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Do your duty today and repent tomorrow
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist