--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The duties, which a man performs as a…" description: "\"“The duties, which a man performs as a friend or parent, do not seem merely owing to his benefactor or children; nor can he be wanting to these duties,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/christopher-hitchens-117_character_the-duties-which-a-man-performs-as-a-fri_1534664.jpg" --- # The duties, which a man performs as a friend or parent, do… ![“The duties, which a man performs as a friend or parent, do not seem merely owing to his benefactor or children; nor can he be wanting to these duties, without breaking through all the ties of nature and morality. A strong inclination may prompt him to the performance: A sentiment of order and…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/christopher-hitchens-117_character_the-duties-which-a-man-performs-as-a-fri_1534664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/christopher-hitchens-117_character_the-duties-which-a-man-performs-as-a-fri_1534664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/christopher-hitchens-117_character_the-duties-which-a-man-performs-as-a-fri_1534664.jpg) > ““The duties, which a man performs as a friend or parent, do not seem merely owing to his benefactor or children; nor can he be wanting to these duties, without breaking through all the ties of nature and morality. A strong inclination may prompt him to the performance: A sentiment of order and moral obligation joins its force to these natural ties: And the whole man, if truly virtuous, is drawn to his duty, without any effort or endeavour. Even with regard to the virtues, which are more austere, and more founded on reflection, such as public spirit, filial duty, temperance, or integrity; the moral obligation, in our apprehension, removes all pretension to religious merit; and the virtuous conduct is deemed no more than what we owe to society and to ourselves. In all this, a superstitious man finds nothing, which he has properly performed for the sake of his deity, or which can peculiarly recommend him to the divine favor and protection. He considers not, that the most genuine method of serving the divinity is by promoting the happiness of his creatures. He still looks out for some immediate service of the supreme Being, in order to allay those terrors, with which he is haunted. And any practice, recommended to him, which either serves to no purpose in life, or offers the strongest violence to his natural inclinations; that practice he will the more readily embrace, on account of those very circumstances, which should make him absolutely reject it. It seems the more purely religious, because it proceeds from no mixture of any other motive or consideration. And if, for its sake, he sacrifices much of his ease and quiet, his claim of merit appears still to rise upon him, in proportion to the zeal and devotion, which he discovers. In restoring a loan, or paying a debt, his divinity is nowise beholden to him; because these acts of justice are what he was bound to perform, and what many would have performed, were there no god in the universe. But if he fast a day, or give himself a sound whipping; this has a direct reference, in his opinion, to the service of God. No other motive could engage him to such austerities. By these distinguished marks of devotion, he has now acquired the divine favor; and may expect, in recompense, protection, and safety in this world, and eternal happiness in the next.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral duty arises from natural and societal ties, not from religious merit; virtue is service to humanity. **In simple terms:** Duty comes from humanity, not divine reward. Key Takeaway Act from moral obligation, not for divine favor. Themes ethics humanism duty virtue Mood critical analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public service - charitable work - personal integrity - education Key Concepts moral philosophy secularism social contract Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to act morally? - Can secular duty replace religious devotion? A Different Perspective Religious individuals may find this view dismissive of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Duty Temperance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-temperance-5703122/) [Eternal happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-happiness/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Merit Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit-virtuous-5703121/) [Moral obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-obligation/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Purpose In Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-in-life/) [Regard Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard-virtues-5703123/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Virtuous Conduct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous-conduct-2471136/) ## Related quotes > [Those who merely possess the goods of fortune may be haughty and insolent; . . . they try to imitate the great-souled man without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/those-who-merely-possess-the-goods-of-fortune-may-be-haughty-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Money and power are not your true rewards. 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A strong inclination may prompt him to the performance: A sentiment of order and moral obligation joins its force to these natural ties: And the whole man, if truly virtuous, is drawn to his duty, without any effort or endeavour. Even with regard to the virtues, which are more austere, and more founded on reflection, such as public spirit, filial duty, temperance, or integrity; the moral obligation, in our apprehension, removes all pretension to religious merit; and the virtuous conduct is deemed no more than what we owe to society and to ourselves. In all this, a superstitious man finds nothing, which he has properly performed for the sake of his deity, or which can peculiarly recommend him to the divine favor and protection. He considers not, that the most genuine method of serving the divinity is by promoting the happiness of his creatures. He still looks out for some immediate service of the supreme Being, in order to allay those terrors, with which he is haunted. And any practice, recommended to him, which either serves to no purpose in life, or offers the strongest violence to his natural inclinations; that practice he will the more readily embrace, on account of those very circumstances, which should make him absolutely reject it. It seems the more purely religious, because it proceeds from no mixture of any other motive or consideration. And if, for its sake, he sacrifices much of his ease and quiet, his claim of merit appears still to rise upon him, in proportion to the zeal and devotion, which he discovers. In restoring a loan, or paying a debt, his divinity is nowise beholden to him; because these acts of justice are what he was bound to perform, and what many would have performed, were there no god in the universe. But if he fast a day, or give himself a sound whipping; this has a direct reference, in his opinion, to the service of God. No other motive could engage him to such austerities. 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