# Quotes about duty

- Quotes: 39
- Authors: 30
- Broader topic: [Quotes about responsibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/responsibility.md)
- Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty
- JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.json

## Quotes

> I sail for Italy not of my own free will.

[Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md) · [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/i-sail-for.md)

Topics: [fate](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fate.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> From these I have drawn the great moral lesson, perhaps the only one of any practical value, to avoid those situations of life which bring our duties into conflict with our interests, and which show us our own advantage in the misfortunes of others; for it is certain that, in such situations, however sincere our love of virtue, we must, sooner or later, inevitably grow weak without perceiving it, and become unjust and wicked in act, without having ceased to be just and good in our hearts.

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Confessions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions/from-these-i-have.md)

Topics: [morality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/morality.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> even if the sacrifices which are made to duty and virtue are painful to make, they are well repaid by the sweet recollections which they leave at the bottom of the heart.

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Confessions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions/even-if-the.md)

Topics: [sacrifice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sacrifice.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Maybe this was one of those times when being a hero didn’t involve looking particularly brave. It was just doing what you should.

[Lev Grossman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman.md) · [The Magician King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman/the-magician-king.md) · p. 340 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman/the-magician-king/maybe-this-was.md)

Topics: [heroism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/heroism.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> As far as I'm concerned, if someone is paying a huge amount of money to come to your restaurant and eat your food, then you have a duty to be in the kitchen.

[Marco Pierre White](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marco-pierre-white.md) · [The Devil in the Kitchen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marco-pierre-white/the-devil-in-the-kitchen.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marco-pierre-white/the-devil-in-the-kitchen/as-far-as-im-concerned.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> '...She cannot stay out of duty. The things one does, one should do out of love.' (p155)

[Edwidge Danticat](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edwidge-danticat.md) · [Breath, Eyes, Memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edwidge-danticat/breath-eyes-memory.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edwidge-danticat/breath-eyes-memory/she-cannot-stay.md)

Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Some of us volunteered to fight for Union. Some came mainly because we were bored at home and this looked like it might be fun. Some came because we were ashamed not to. Many of us came... because it was the right thing to do.

[Michael Shaara](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-shaara.md) · [The Killer Angels](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-shaara/the-killer-angels.md) · p. 32 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-shaara/the-killer-angels/some-of-us-volunteered.md)

Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> “The difference between you and Robert,” said my sister-in-law, who often (bless her!) speaks on a platform, and oftener still as if she were on one, “is that he recognizes the duties of his position, and you see the opportunities of yours.”
>
> “To a man of spirit, my dear Rose,” I answered, “opportunities are duties.”

[Anthony Hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-hope.md) · [The Prisoner of Zenda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-hope/the-prisoner-of-zenda.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-hope/the-prisoner-of-zenda/the-difference-between.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> When our passion leads us to do something, we forget our duty; for example, we like a book and read it, when we ought to be doing something else. Now, to remind ourselves of our duty, we must set ourselves a task we dislike; we then plead that we have something else to do, and by this means remember our duty.

[Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/when-our-passion.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The very right to vote imposes on me the duty to instruct myself in public affair, however little influence my voice may have in them.

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [The Social Contract](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-social-contract.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-social-contract/the-very-right.md)

Topics: [democracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/democracy.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The regiment had taught him that he must do his duty or die in the attempt; a simple enough religion for his simple mind. As long as there was breath in his body or a thought in his mind he must struggle on; as long as he went on trying there was no need to meditate on success or failure. The only reward for the doing of his duty would be the knowledge that his duty was being done. That was how honour called; and glory -- the man in the ranks did not bother with glory, nor did the men a century later who died in the poison gas at Ypres.

[C.S. Forester](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester.md) · [Death To The French](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester/death-to-the-french.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester/death-to-the-french/the-regiment-had.md)

Topics: [honour](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honour.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md), [soldiers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soldiers.md)

> Not that it mattered. Not even trifles depended on it, for in those days there were no medals or crosses for men in the ranks. There was only honor and duty, and it was hard for a later generation to realize that these abstractions had meant anything to the querulous bald-headed old boozer who had once been Rifleman Dodd.

[C.S. Forester](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester.md) · [Death To The French](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester/death-to-the-french.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester/death-to-the-french/not-that-it-mattered.md)

Topics: [honour](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honour.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md), [soldiers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soldiers.md)

> Yet if he had been asked – it is quite impossible, but assume it to have happened – if he were happy, he would not have known what to reply. He would have admitted readily enough that he was uncomfortable, that he was cold, and badly fed, and verminous; that his clothes were in rags, and his feet and knees and elbows raw and bleeding through much walking and crawling; that he was in ever-present peril of his life, and that he really did not expect to survive the adventure he was about to thrust himself into voluntarily, but all this had nothing to do with happiness: that was something he never stopped to think about. Perhaps the fact that he did not think about it proves he was happy. He was a soldier carrying out his duty as well as he knew how. He would have been the first to admit that under the wise direction of an officer what he had done and what he proposed to do might be more successful, but as it was he felt (or rather he would have felt if he had thought about it) he had nothing with which to reproach himself. And that condition is not at all far from true happiness.

[C.S. Forester](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester.md) · [Death To The French](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester/death-to-the-french.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cs-forester/death-to-the-french/yet-if-he-had.md)

Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md), [soldiers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soldiers.md)

> He did his duty. Some nights, Ser Barristan wondered if he had not done that duty too well.

[George RR Martin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin.md) · [A Dance with Dragons](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-dance-with-dragons.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-rr-martin/a-dance-with-dragons/he-did-his.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> She... she wouldn't leave, you see. She insisted, over the objections of Parliament, to remain at Windsor, as she put it, "for the duration." [...] "The highest distinction is service to others." Her father had said that; it was the reason he had refused to run to Canada during the Second World War, the reason her mother had spent the blitz visiting civilians huddled in the tube stations beneath London, the same reason, to this day, we remain a United Kingdom. Their task, their mandate, is to personify all that is great in our national spirit. They must forever be an example to the rest of us, the strongest, and bravest, and absolute best of us. In a sense, it is they who are ruled by us, instead of the other way around, and they must sacrifice everything, everything, to shoulder the weight of this godlike burden. Otherwise, what's the flipping point? Just scrap the whole damn tradition, roll out the bloody guillotine, and be done with it altogether. They were viewed very much like castles, I suppose: as crumbling, obsolete relics, with no real modern function other than as tourist attractions. But when the skies darkened and the nation called, both reawoke to the meaning of their existence. One shielded our bodies, the other, our souls.

[Max Brooks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-brooks.md) · [World War Z](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-brooks/world-war-z.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-brooks/world-war-z/she-she-wouldnt.md)

Topics: [sacrifice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sacrifice.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The task counts more than the one who does it.

[Lloyd Alexander](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lloyd-alexander.md) · [The Book of Three](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lloyd-alexander/the-book-of-three.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lloyd-alexander/the-book-of-three/the-task-counts.md)

Topics: [humility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humility.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> One of the pilots whom I had known when I was on the river had died a very honorable death. His boat caught fire, and he remained at the wheel until he got her safe to land. Then he went out over the breast-board with his clothing in flames, and was the last person to get ashore. He died from his injuries in the course of two or three hours, and his was the only life lost. The history of Mississippi piloting affords six or seven instances of this sort of martyrdom, and half a hundred instances of escapes from a like fate which came within a second or two of being fatally too late; But there is no instance of a pilot deserting his post to save his life while by remaining and sacrificing it he might secure other lives from destruction. It is well worth while to set down this noble fact, and well worth while to put it in italics, too.

[Mark Twain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain.md) · [Life on the Mississippi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/life-on-the-mississippi.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/life-on-the-mississippi/one-of-the.md)

Topics: [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [sacrifice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sacrifice.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Of him to whom less is given, less will be required, but our utmost exertions are required of us all.

[Anne Brontë](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte.md) · [The Tenant of Wildfell Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall/of-him-to-whom.md)

Topics: [talent](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/talent.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md), [effort](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/effort.md)

> Such humble talents as God had given me I will endeavour to put to their greatest use; if I am able to amuse I will try to benefit too; and when I feel it my duty to speak an unpalatable truth, with the help of God, I will speak it, though it be to the prejudice of my name and to the detriment of my readers immediate pleasure as well as my own.

[Anne Brontë](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte.md) · [The Tenant of Wildfell Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall/such-humble-talents.md)

Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [talent](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/talent.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Duty is that mode of action which constitutes the best application of the capacity of the individual to the general advantage. Right is the claim of the individual to his share of the benefit arising from his neighbors' discharge of their several duties.

[William Godwin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-godwin.md) · [Enquiry Concerning Political Justice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-godwin/enquiry-concerning-political-justice.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-godwin/enquiry-concerning-political-justice/duty-is-that.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> A human life is defined by its relationship with others: by its duty to its species. In the face of this duty, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are meaningless. What you call individual rights are merely the cultural fantasy of a failed civilization.

[Matthew Stover](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matthew-stover.md) · [Blade of Tyshalle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matthew-stover/blade-of-tyshalle.md) · p. 74 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matthew-stover/blade-of-tyshalle/a-human-life.md)

Topics: [individualism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/individualism.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The key Hindu concept of dharma — the right way, the sanctioned way, which all men must follow, according to their natures — is an elastic concept. At its noblest it combines self-fulfillment and truth to the self with the ideas of action as duty, action as its own spiritual reward, man as a holy vessel.

[V. S. Naipaul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/v-s-naipaul.md) · [India: A Wounded Civilization](https://www.leafyquotes.com/v-s-naipaul/india-a-wounded-civilization.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/v-s-naipaul/india-a-wounded-civilization/the-key-hindu.md)

Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The worst of doing one's duty was that it apparently unfitted one for doing anything else.

[Edith Wharton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edith-wharton.md) · [The Age of Innocence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edith-wharton/the-age-of-innocence.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edith-wharton/the-age-of-innocence/the-worst-of-doing.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> “Our religion is based upon eschewing human sacrifice in favor of lives that are fulfilling, productive, and joyful.”
>
> Startled, Ellin cried, “Human sacrifice! I am surprised you can think of such a thing!”
>
> D’Jevier said with unfeigned weariness, “My dear young woman, our history is made up of millennia of human sacrifice. Well into the twenty-first century, huge armies of young men were sacrificed to tribal or national honor, women were sacrificed to male supremacy, children were sacrificed to brutality, all immolated in flames of painful duty. We try to determine whether the dutiful will suffer and to decide how that suffering may be compensated. We continually redesign our society to provide joy to those who incur pain on our behalf.”

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Six Moon Dance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance.md) · p. 270 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance/our-religion-is-based.md)

Topics: [history](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/history.md), [sacrifice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sacrifice.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Duty was simply not enough. There had to be more than that!

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Grass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/grass.md) · p. 446 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/grass/duty-was-simply.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Freedom was wonderful beyond relief. But with it came that bitch, Duty.

[David Brin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin.md) · [The Postman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/the-postman.md) · p. 270 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/the-postman/freedom-was-wonderful.md)

Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Duty measures the distance between the animal and the divine.

[R. Scott Bakker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-scott-bakker.md) · [The Warrior-Prophet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-scott-bakker/the-warrior-prophet.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/r-scott-bakker/the-warrior-prophet/duty-measures-the.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Make no great account who is for thee or against thee, but mind only the present duty and take care that God be with thee in whatsoever thou doest.

[Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/make-no-great.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> I looked down the long lines of waving black plumes and stern faces beneath them, and sighed to think that within one short hour most, if not all, of those magnificent veteran warriors, not a man of whom was under forty years of age, would be laid dead or dying in the dust. It could not be otherwise; they were being condemned, with that wise recklessness of human life which marks the great general, and often saves his forces and attains his ends, to certain slaughter, in order to give their cause and the remainder of the army a chance of success. They were foredoomed to die, and they knew the truth. It was to be their task to engage regiment after regiment of Twala's army on the narrow strip of green beneath us, till they were exterminated or till the wings found a favourable opportunity for their onslaught. And yet they never hesitated, nor could I detect a sign of fear upon the face of a single warrior. There they were—going to certain death, about to quit the blessed light of day for ever, and yet able to contemplate their doom without a tremor. Even at that moment I could not help contrasting their state of mind with my own, which was far from comfortable, and breathing a sigh of envy and admiration. Never before had I seen such an absolute devotion to the idea of duty, and such a complete indifference to its bitter fruits.

[Henry Rider Haggard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-rider-haggard.md) · [King Solomon's Mines](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-rider-haggard/king-solomons-mines.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-rider-haggard/king-solomons-mines/i-looked-down.md)

Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> Duty largely consists of pretending that the trivial is critical.

[John Fowles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-fowles.md) · [The Magus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-fowles/the-magus.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-fowles/the-magus/duty-largely-consists.md)

Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> "A gentleman is someone who does not what he wants to do but what he should do."

[Haruki Murakami](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami.md) · [Norwegian Wood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/norwegian-wood.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/norwegian-wood/a-gentleman-is-someone.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> "My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fibre," Ford muttered to himself, "and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [Life, the Universe and Everything](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/life-the-universe-and-everything.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/life-the-universe-and-everything/my-doctor-says.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> If I was wrong in yielding to persuasion once, remember that it was to persuasion exerted on the side of safety, not of risk. When I yielded, I thought it was to duty; but no duty could be called in aid here. In marrying a man indifferent to me, all risk would have been incurred, and all duty violated.

[Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Persuasion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion/if-i-was.md)

Topics: [marriage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/marriage.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The administration of the great system of the universe, however, the care of the universal happiness of all rational and sensible beings, is the business of God and not of man. To man is allotted a much humbler department, but one much more suitable to the weakness of his powers, and to the narrowness of his comprehension; the care of his own happiness, of that of his family, his friends, his country: that he is occupied in contemplating the more sublime, can never be an excuse for his neglecting the more humble department.

[Adam Smith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith.md) · [The Theory of Moral Sentiments](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments/the-administration-of-the.md)

Topics: [god](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/god.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> There is no such thing as duty. If you know that a thing is right, you want to do it. If you don't want to do it—it isn't right. If it's right and you don't want to do it—you don't know what right is and you're not a man.

[Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [We the Living](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/we-the-living.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/we-the-living/there-is-no-such.md)

Topics: [morality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/morality.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> "What moves the Greek warrior to deeds of heroism," Kitto comments, "is not a sense of duty as we understand it—duty towards others: it is rather duty towards himself. He strives after that which we translate 'virtue' but is in Greek aretê, 'excellence' … we shall have much to say about aretê. It runs through Greek life."
>
> There, Phædrus thinks, is a definition of Quality that had existed a thousand years before the dialecticians ever thought to put it to word-traps. Anyone who cannot understand this meaning without logical definiens and definendum and differentia is either lying or so out of touch with the common lot of humanity as to be unworthy of receiving any reply whatsoever.

[Robert M. Pirsig](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig.md) · [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/what-moves-the.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md), [perfection](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/perfection.md)

> There are circumstances in which a man may be of more use to his fellow-countrymen outside his country than within it. Then he should listen only to his own zeal and should bear his exile without a murmur; that exile is one of his duties. But you, dear Emile, you have not undertaken the painful task of telling men the truth, you must live in the midst of your fellow-creatures, cultivating their friendship in pleasant intercourse; you must be their benefactor, their pattern; your example will do more than all our books, and the good they see you do will touch them more deeply than all our empty words.

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/there-are-circumstances.md)

Topics: [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md), [emigration](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emigration.md)

> If the prince or the state calls you to the service of your country, leave all to fulfil the honourable duties of a citizen in the post assigned to you. If you find that duty onerous, there is a sure and honourable means of escaping from it; do your duty so honestly that it will not long be left in your hands. Moreover, you need not fear the difficulties of such a test; while there are men of our own time, they will not summon you to serve the state.

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/if-the-prince.md)

Topics: [the state](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-state.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)

> The learned always despise the opinions of the crowd; each of them must have his own opinion. A haughty philosophy leads to atheism just as blind devotion leads to fanaticism. Avoid these extremes; keep steadfastly to the path of truth, or what seems to you truth, in simplicity of heart, and never let yourself be turned aside by pride or weakness. Dare to confess God before the philosophers; dare to preach humanity to the intolerant. It may be you will stand alone, but you will bear within you a witness which will make the witness of men of no account with you. Let them love or hate, let them read your writings or despise them; no matter. Speak the truth and do the right; the one thing that really matters is to do one's duty in this world; and when we forget ourselves we are really working for ourselves. My child, self-interest misleads us; the hope of the just is the only sure guide.

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-learned-always.md)

Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [duty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/duty.md)