--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always feel that I have two duties to…" description: "\"I always feel that I have two duties to perform with a parting guest: one, to see that he doesn't forget anything that is his; the other, to see that h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/alfred-north-whitehead-836_duties_i-always-feel-that-i-have-two-duties-to_1600133.png" --- # I always feel that I have two duties to perform with a… ![“I always feel that I have two duties to perform with a parting guest: one, to see that he doesn't forget anything that is his; the other, to see that he doesn't take anything that is mine.” quote by Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/alfred-north-whitehead-836_duties_i-always-feel-that-i-have-two-duties-to_1600133.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/alfred-north-whitehead-836_duties_i-always-feel-that-i-have-two-duties-to_1600133.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/alfred-north-whitehead-836_duties_i-always-feel-that-i-have-two-duties-to_1600133.png) > “I always feel that I have two duties to perform with a parting guest: one, to see that he doesn't forget anything that is his; the other, to see that he doesn't take anything that is mine.” [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a guest departs, one must ensure they retain what belongs to them and do not take what belongs to the host. **In simple terms:** Protect both parties' belongings. Key Takeaway Respect boundaries in farewells. Themes etiquette responsibility hospitality boundaries Mood thoughtful respectful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - travel - business meetings - social gatherings Key Concepts ethics social norms property rights Questions to Reflect On - What non‑material gifts do you leave behind? - How can you honor a guest beyond possessions? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on material exchange can overlook emotional farewells. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [House guests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-guests/) ## Related quotes > [As a guest who doesn't eat, drink or smoke, you leave much to be desired, but as a writer, you're my girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-ritter/as-a-guest-who-doesn-t-eat-drink-or-smoke-you-leave-much-to-be/) [Thelma Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-ritter/) > [True friendship's laws are by this rule express'd, Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/true-friendship-s-laws-are-by-this-rule-express-d-welcome-the-coming/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“You English have a saying which is close to my heart, for its spirit is that which rules our boyars: "Welcome the coming, speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/you-english-have-a-saying-which-is-close-to-my-heart-for-its-spirit/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [Every human being has a work to carry on within, duties to perform abroad, influence to exert, which are peculiarly his, and which no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/every-human-being-has-a-work-to-carry-on-within-duties-to-perform/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [ When there are duties to perform \[true\] servants and sons serve their labors. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-there-are-duties-to-perform-true-servants-and-sons-serve-their/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [If a female wants to do a man's job, no one will stop her from doing it, but women have duties to perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-kuti/if-a-female-wants-to-do-a-man-s-job-no-one-will-stop-her-from-doing/) [Fela Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-kuti/) > [“A Parting Guest What delightful hosts are they— Life and Love! Lingeringly I turn away, This late hour, yet glad enough They have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/a-parting-guest-what-delightful-hosts-are-they-life-and-love/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [:) Inflation were the first to say why not come to my house guests! Now let's say, why guests cometo my house! Really have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/inflation-were-the-first-to-say-why-not-come-to-my-house-guests-now/) Mak\_786 > [This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. 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The virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hospitality-n-the-virtue-which-induces-us-to-feed-and-lodge-certain/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [None of my songs are written 'about' someone or something, they all just sort of tumble out unannounced, like the worst kind of house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/none-of-my-songs-are-written-about-someone-or-something-they-all-just/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [House guests should be regarded as perishables: Leave them out too long and they go bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/house-guests-should-be-regarded-as-perishables-leave-them-out-too/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [We dare not trust our wit for making our house pleasant to our friend, so we buy ice cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-dare-not-trust-our-wit-for-making-our-house-pleasant-to-our-friend/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Alfred North Whitehead > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/philosophy-begins-in-wonder-and-at-the-end-when-philosophic-thought/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The pursuit of mathematics is a divine madness of the human spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-pursuit-of-mathematics-is-a-divine-madness-of-the-human-spirit/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Without adventure all civilization is full of decay. Adventure rarely reaches its predetermined end. 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Not everyone is good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/everyone-is-a-philosopher-not-everyone-is-good-at-it/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Do not teach too many subjects and what you teach, teach thoroughly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/do-not-teach-too-many-subjects-and-what-you-teach-teach-thoroughly/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. Operations of thought are cavalry charges in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/civilization-advances-by-extending-the-number-of-important-operations/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) [Explore all 356 Alfred North Whitehead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) ## More Duties quotes > [“You must not allow the hurt of the past to haunt or hinder you from fulfilling and performing your duties as one who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-not-allow-the-hurt-of-the-past-to-haunt-or-hinder-you-from/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Medical physicists work in cooperation with doctors. A few medical physicists devote their time to research and teaching. A few get involved with administrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/medical-physicists-work-in-cooperation-with-doctors-a-few-medical/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [“I truly wanted to live a life in which I could make my own choices, independent of the 'duties' of my birth and position.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-truly-wanted-to-live-a-life-in-which-i-could-make-my-own-choices/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I guess everybody has to pay duties at the Masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/i-guess-everybody-has-to-pay-duties-at-the-masters/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [Some duties exist simply because we are part of a larger family or community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/some-duties-exist-simply-because-we-are-part-of-a-larger-family-or/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/duties-are-ours-events-are-god-s-this-removes-an-infinite-burden-from/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Irrespective of the tasks given to me, I have done my best to discharge my duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/irrespective-of-the-tasks-given-to-me-i-have-done-my-best-to/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [My husband is in charge of all phone, email and texting duties at home. 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