--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Responsibility, n. A detachable burden…" description: "\"Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg" --- # Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to… ![“Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg) > “Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Responsibility is often shifted onto higher powers or others, making it an easy excuse to avoid personal accountability. **In simple terms:** People shift responsibility to others. Key Takeaway Accept personal accountability. Themes responsibility accountability excuse Mood critical insightful Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - leadership - teamwork - personal growth - ethics Key Concepts philosophy psychology social behavior Questions to Reflect On - When have you blamed fate for a mistake? - How can you own your duties more fully? A Different Perspective Blaming external forces can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astrology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrology/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [Conversation: A fair for the display of the minor mental commodities, each exhibitor being too intent upon the arrangement of his own wares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/conversation-a-fair-for-the-display-of-the-minor-mental-commodities/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A statesman who shakes the fruit trees of his neighbors - to dislodge the worms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-statesman-who-shakes-the-fruit-trees-of-his-neighbors-to-dislodge/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Turquoise is my birthstone; I'm a Sagittarius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/turquoise-is-my-birthstone-i-m-a-sagittarius/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I wanna say I'm detached, but I'm an Aquarius that's sensitive as hell. That's dope, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-wanna-say-i-m-detached-but-i-m-an-aquarius-that-s-sensitive-as-hell/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“Rooster/Pisces: Likes shiny things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-white/rooster-pisces-likes-shiny-things/) Suzanne White > [All anyone can see in a birthchart are tendencies that will become facts if he does not do something to alter them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-hickey/all-anyone-can-see-in-a-birthchart-are-tendencies-that-will-become/) Isabel Hickey > [Sagittarius don't like to be the first one to say sorry when they knew they were right in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sagittarius-don-t-like-to-be-the-first-one-to-say-sorry-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An Aries will continue something even if others give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-aries-will-continue-something-even-if-others-give-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [When a Gemini is finally tired of trying, they will just leave, no fight, no argument and sometimes not even a goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-gemini-is-finally-tired-of-trying-they-will-just-leave-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My sign is Leo. A Leo has to walk with pride. When he takes a step, he has to put his foot down. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/my-sign-is-leo-a-leo-has-to-walk-with-pride-when-he-takes-a-step-he/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [Failure or success seems to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-or-success-seems-to-have-been-allotted-to-men-by-their-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Astrology quotes > [Failure or success seems to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-or-success-seems-to-have-been-allotted-to-men-by-their-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My sign is Leo. A Leo has to walk with pride. When he takes a step, he has to put his foot down. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/my-sign-is-leo-a-leo-has-to-walk-with-pride-when-he-takes-a-step-he/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [When a Gemini is finally tired of trying, they will just leave, no fight, no argument and sometimes not even a goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-gemini-is-finally-tired-of-trying-they-will-just-leave-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [An Aries will continue something even if others give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-aries-will-continue-something-even-if-others-give-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sagittarius don't like to be the first one to say sorry when they knew they were right in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sagittarius-don-t-like-to-be-the-first-one-to-say-sorry-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All anyone can see in a birthchart are tendencies that will become facts if he does not do something to alter them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-hickey/all-anyone-can-see-in-a-birthchart-are-tendencies-that-will-become/) Isabel Hickey > [“Rooster/Pisces: Likes shiny things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-white/rooster-pisces-likes-shiny-things/) Suzanne White > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I wanna say I'm detached, but I'm an Aquarius that's sensitive as hell. That's dope, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-wanna-say-i-m-detached-but-i-m-an-aquarius-that-s-sensitive-as-hell/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [Turquoise is my birthstone; I'm a Sagittarius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/turquoise-is-my-birthstone-i-m-a-sagittarius/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Most Sagittariuses start off really reserved. You gotta check people out, see what they're about, and then once we decide you're cool, then that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/most-sagittariuses-start-off-really-reserved-you-gotta-check-people/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-don-t-believe-in-astrology-i-m-a-sagittarius-and-we-re-skeptical/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) [Browse all 754 Astrology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-easily-shifted-to-the-shoulders/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astrology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-easily-shifted-to-the-shoulders/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67b/ambrose-bierce-140_astrology_responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-eas_1929969.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's…” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-easily-shifted-to-the-shoulders/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/responsibility-n-a-detachable-burden-easily-shifted-to-the-shoulders/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```