--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: duty, the most indecent of all…" description: "\"duty, the most indecent of all obsessions, was only another name for love.\" — Colleen McCullough" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg" --- # duty, the most indecent of all obsessions, was only… ![“duty, the most indecent of all obsessions, was only another name for love.” quote by Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg) > “duty, the most indecent of all obsessions, was only another name for love.” [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests that obsessive love is essentially a form of duty, though it may seem indecent. **In simple terms:** Obsessive love is a disguised duty. Key Takeaway Recognize love’s responsibilities behind passion. Themes love duty obsession morality Mood cautionary thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - family - career decisions - personal growth Key Concepts attachment self‑sacrifice ethical conflict Questions to Reflect On - When does love become harmful? - How can duty be balanced with personal freedom? A Different Perspective Obsessive love can become unhealthy if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) ## Related quotes > [It takes one time to show someone how you feel about them...it's called indecent exposure or whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/it-takes-one-time-to-show-someone-how-you-feel-about-them-it-s-called/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [Many people use the words 'death defying' or 'death wishing' when they talk about wire-walking. Many people have asked me: 'So do you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/many-people-use-the-words-death-defying-or-death-wishing-when-they/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Nothing is so indecent that it cannot be said to another person if the proper words are used to convey it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-boccaccio/nothing-is-so-indecent-that-it-cannot-be-said-to-another-person-if/) [Giovanni Boccaccio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-boccaccio/) > [“In the very essence of poetry there is something indecent; A thing brought forth that we didn't know we had in us, So we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/in-the-very-essence-of-poetry-there-is-something-indecent-a-thing/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [Congress has repeatedly passed laws and otherwise raised a ruckus about indecent language on the broadcast airwaves used for radio and television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hundt/congress-has-repeatedly-passed-laws-and-otherwise-raised-a-ruckus/) [Reed Hundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hundt/) > [“Would you let go? It’s indecent, you touching me like this.” “In-dee-sent?” “Indecent. Shameful. Would you please let go? It is my foot, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/would-you-let-go-it-s-indecent-you-touching-me-like-this-in-dee-sent/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [In a certain state it is indecent to live longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-a-certain-state-it-is-indecent-to-live-longer/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I don't see how an article of clothing can be indecent. A person, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-don-t-see-how-an-article-of-clothing-can-be-indecent-a-person-yes/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Wherever I see some mystique, be it virtue or family, faith or fatherland, there I must commit some indecent act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witold-gombrowicz/wherever-i-see-some-mystique-be-it-virtue-or-family-faith-or/) [Witold Gombrowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witold-gombrowicz/) > [“Decent is the last way I want you," she said, skimming her fingers over my stomach, my lower stomach. My lower lower stomach, AKA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/decent-is-the-last-way-i-want-you-she-said-skimming-her-fingers-over/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [I will keep that a secret as it was so indecent I doubt she was in her normal state of mind when she made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-will-keep-that-a-secret-as-it-was-so-indecent-i-doubt-she-was-in/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [“She can't wear that dress! It's indecent. Her ass is hangin' out." ... "Son, take my advice, you gotta get this girl in hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-can-t-wear-that-dress-it-s-indecent-her-ass-is-hangin-out-son/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [No one should tolerate indecent behaviour; it's an absolute no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-shroff/no-one-should-tolerate-indecent-behaviour-it-s-an-absolute-no/) [Jackie Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-shroff/) > [There are certain times I don't want my picture taken. If my wife's stepping out of a car and it looks like it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-darin/there-are-certain-times-i-don-t-want-my-picture-taken-if-my-wife-s/) [Bobby Darin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-darin/) > [“Our age knows better… What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent—it is indecent to be a Christian today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/our-age-knows-better-what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Colleen McCullough > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/for-the-best-is-only-bought-at-the-cost-of-great-pain/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [My fictitious characters will take the bit between their teeth and gallop off and do something that I hadn't counted on. However, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/my-fictitious-characters-will-take-the-bit-between-their-teeth-and/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [I want to know what they look like, their height, and colouring, physique and speech pattens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/i-want-to-know-what-they-look-like-their-height-and-colouring/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Old age is an ordeal, of flesh and mind. Of winding down, of slowing down, of dying cells. It's accepting the loss of physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/old-age-is-an-ordeal-of-flesh-and-mind-of-winding-down-of-slowing/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“But not we men. We weren't fit to be told. For so you women think, and hug your mysteries, getting your backs on us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/but-not-we-men-we-weren-t-fit-to-be-told-for-so-you-women-think-and/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [How frightening, that one person could mean so much, so many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/how-frightening-that-one-person-could-mean-so-much-so-many-things/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“It's not worth getting upset about, Mrs. Dominic. Down in the city they don't know how the other half lives, and they can afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/it-s-not-worth-getting-upset-about-mrs-dominic-down-in-the-city-they/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“You still think love can save us. It's more killing than hate. Hate is so clean, so simple. Like being in the ring. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/you-still-think-love-can-save-us-it-s-more-killing-than-hate-hate-is/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“You still think love can save us. It’s more killing than hate. Hate is so clean, so simple. Like being in the ring. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/you-still-think-love-can-save-us-it-s-more-killing-than-hate-hate-is-2/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [If you love people, they kill you. If you need people, they kill you. They do I tell you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/if-you-love-people-they-kill-you-if-you-need-people-they-kill-you/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“The law should not be a huge and weighty slab which falls upon a man and squashes him into a uniform shape, for men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-law-should-not-be-a-huge-and-weighty-slab-which-falls-upon-a-man/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [There is no doubt that it is more difficult to read and more difficult to write but I still manage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/there-is-no-doubt-that-it-is-more-difficult-to-read-and-more/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [It's a woman's book but I think the men will read it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/it-s-a-woman-s-book-but-i-think-the-men-will-read-it-too/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [“Maybe no great man is virtuous. Or good. Perhaps a man rich in those qualities by definition is barred from greatness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/maybe-no-great-man-is-virtuous-or-good-perhaps-a-man-rich-in-those/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) [Explore all 82 Colleen McCullough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) ## More Duty quotes > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/) [Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Browse all 5,178 Duty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "duty, the most indecent of all obsessions, was only another name for love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colleen McCullough" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions-was-only-another-name-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions-was-only-another-name-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/colleen-mccullough-7229_duty_duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions_674743.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“duty, the most indecent of all obsessions, was only another name for love.” — Colleen McCullough", "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": "Colleen McCullough", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "duty, the most indecent of all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions-was-only-another-name-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/duty-the-most-indecent-of-all-obsessions-was-only-another-name-for/#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 } } ] } ```