Obligation Quote by Barbara Jordan
“It is a privilege to serve people, a privilege that must be earned, and once earned, there is an obligation to do something good with it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commencement address, Texas Southern University, 1975
Servicing others is a privilege that requires earning trust and acting responsibly.
In simple terms: Serving people is a privilege that must be earned.
Key Takeaway
Earn trust, then use influence for good.
Themes
service
responsibility
leadership
Mood
inspirational
ethical
Type
quote
advice
When to use this quote
- politics
- non‑profit work
- community organizing
- education
Key Concepts
ethical duty
public service
social impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure earned privilege benefits others?
- What safeguards protect against abuse?
A Different Perspective
Power can be misused without accountability.
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
