---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the performance of our duty one…"
description: "\"In the performance of our duty one feeling should direct us; the case we should consider as our own, and we should ask ourselves, whether, placed under..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png"
---

#  In the performance of our duty one feeling should direct…

![“In the performance of our duty one feeling should direct us; the case we should consider as our own, and we should ask ourselves, whether, placed under similar circumstances, we should choose to submit to the pain and danger we are about to inflict.” quote by Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png)

> “In the performance of our duty one feeling should direct us; the case we should consider as our own, and we should ask ourselves, whether, placed under similar circumstances, we should choose to submit to the pain and danger we are about to inflict.”

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

One should act as if each case were personally affecting them, considering the pain and danger involved before acting.

**In simple terms:** Treat each situation as if it were yours, weighing risks and harm.

Key Takeaway

Empathize and evaluate consequences before acting.

Themes

ethics empathy responsibility

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- clinical decisions
- legal judgments
- personal dilemmas

Key Concepts

moral philosophy personal responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How would you balance empathy with professional detachment?
- When does personal involvement hinder objectivity?

A Different Perspective

May be unrealistic to feel personal ownership of every case.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Case Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/case-consider-5772911/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Circumstances Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-choose-628909/) [Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-feeling-5772910/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Submit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit/) [Submit Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit-pain-4665574/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/)

## Related quotes

> [“Submit to your pain; don't suppress your pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/submit-to-your-pain-don-t-suppress-your-pain/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [Pain is real when you get other people to believe in it. If no one believes in it but you, your pain is madness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/pain-is-real-when-you-get-other-people-to-believe-in-it-if-no-one-2/)

[Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/)

> [“We cannot choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we handle them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-pappa/we-cannot-choose-our-circumstances-but-we-can-choose-how-we-handle/)

[Markus Pappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-pappa/)

> [“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances. Nature”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-man-cannot-directly-choose-his-circumstances-but-he-can-choose-his-2/)

[James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/)

> [“We're all here. We all came from different places and for different reasons, but we all have to choose how we're going to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-rix/we-re-all-here-we-all-came-from-different-places-and-for-different/)

[Deborah Rix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-rix/)

> [“A person cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances."—As A Man Thinketh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-johnson/a-person-cannot-directly-choose-his-circumstances-but-he-can-choose/)

[Vic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-johnson/)

> [We all have circumstances, choose not to live in your circumstance, but live in your vision!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-pagano/we-all-have-circumstances-choose-not-to-live-in-your-circumstance-but/)

[Chuck Pagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-pagano/)

> [“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-man-cannot-directly-choose-his-circumstances-but-he-can-choose-his/)

[James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/)

> [We are both burdened and blessed by the great responsibility of the will - the power of choice. Our future is determined, in large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/we-are-both-burdened-and-blessed-by-the-great-responsibility-of-the/)

[Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/)

> [A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-particular-train-of-thought-persisted-in-be-it-good-or-bad-cannot/)

[James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/)

> [We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-cannot-choose-our-external-circumstances-but-we-can-always-choose/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [“If you let other people and random circumstances choose your beliefs, actions, and attitudes, you might end up with a life that doesn’t fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-h-o-neil/if-you-let-other-people-and-random-circumstances-choose-your-beliefs/)

[Vincent H. O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-h-o-neil/)

> [Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-can-be-taken-from-a-man-or-a-woman-but-one-thing-the-last/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-s-not-what-happens-to-you-but-how-you-react-to-it-that-matters-we/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [Bypass surgery, angioplasty,and even diagnostic angiograms are so over used that, in my opinion, it constitutes criminal behaviour by the cardiologists and surgeons involved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-whitaker/bypass-surgery-angioplasty-and-even-diagnostic-angiograms-are-so-over/)

[Julian Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-whitaker/)

## More by Astley Cooper

> [In collecting evidence upon any medical subject, there are but three sources from which we can hope to obtain it; viz. from observation on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/in-collecting-evidence-upon-any-medical-subject-there-are-but-three/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [The means by which I preserve my own health are, temperance, early rising, and spunging the body every morning with cold water, a practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/the-means-by-which-i-preserve-my-own-health-are-temperance-early/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [It is the surgeon’s duty to tranquillize the temper, to beget cheerfulness, and to impart confidence of recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/it-is-the-surgeon-s-duty-to-tranquillize-the-temper-to-beget/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [My lectures were highly esteemed, but my operations less thought of, so that I am of opinion that my operations rather kept down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/my-lectures-were-highly-esteemed-but-my-operations-less-thought-of-so/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [Nothing is known in our profession by guess; and I do not believe, that from the first dawn of medical science to the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/nothing-is-known-in-our-profession-by-guess-and-i-do-not-believe-that/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [My lectures were highly esteemed, but I am of opinion my operations rather kept down my practice, than increased it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/my-lectures-were-highly-esteemed-but-i-am-of-opinion-my-operations/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [If you are too fond of new remedies, first you will not cure your patients; secondly, you will have no patients to cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/if-you-are-too-fond-of-new-remedies-first-you-will-not-cure-your/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [I have made many mistakes myself; in learning the anatomy of the eye I dare say, I have spoiled a hatfull; the best surgeon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/i-have-made-many-mistakes-myself-in-learning-the-anatomy-of-the-eye-i/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [In the collecting of evidence upon any medical subject, there are but three sources from which we can hope to obtain it: viz. from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/in-the-collecting-of-evidence-upon-any-medical-subject-there-are-but/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

> [Having made a sufficient opening to admit my finger into the abdomen, I passed it between the intestines to the spine, and felt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/having-made-a-sufficient-opening-to-admit-my-finger-into-the-abdomen/)

[Astley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

[Explore all 11 Astley Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/)

## More Asks quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/)

[Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/)

> [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/)

[Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/)

[Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/)

[Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In the performance of our duty one feeling should direct us; the case we should consider as our own, and we should ask ourselves, whether, placed under similar circumstances, we should choose to submit to the pain and danger we are about to inflict.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Astley Cooper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeling-should-direct-us-the-case/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Asks"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeling-should-direct-us-the-case/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/astley-cooper-38541_asks_in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeli_3171179.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the performance of our duty one feeling should direct us; the case we should consider as our own, and we…” — Astley Cooper",
                "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": "Astley Cooper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astley-cooper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In the performance of our duty...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeling-should-direct-us-the-case/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astley-cooper/in-the-performance-of-our-duty-one-feeling-should-direct-us-the-case/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
