--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What Heaven has conferred is called The…" description: "\"What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/confucius-164_duty_what-heaven-has-conferred-is-called-the_270884.jpg" --- # What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an… ![“What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/confucius-164_duty_what-heaven-has-conferred-is-called-the_270884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/confucius-164_duty_what-heaven-has-conferred-is-called-the_270884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/confucius-164_duty_what-heaven-has-conferred-is-called-the_270884.jpg) > “What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living according to nature and duty creates harmony; abandoning it even briefly disrupts order. **In simple terms:** Follow natural duty and duty. Key Takeaway Uphold your responsibilities consistently. Themes duty harmony nature Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - workplace ethics - family roles - public service - personal discipline Key Concepts confucian ethics order consistency Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal duty align with your nature? - What happens when duty conflicts with personal desire? A Different Perspective May be too rigid for modern, fluid contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-path-2648459/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant/) [Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Accordance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-accordance-2648457/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Path Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-called-2648458/) [Path Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-duty-312276/) [Regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulation/) ## Related quotes > [“The path that we are all called to travel is never the easiest path,” said Vohro as he strode up to the boy. “If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-janvier-del-valle/the-path-that-we-are-all-called-to-travel-is-never-the-easiest-path/) [R. Janvier del Valle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-janvier-del-valle/) > [The path of duty I clearly trace, / I stand with conscience face to face, / And all her pleas allow; / Calling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cary/the-path-of-duty-i-clearly-trace-i-stand-with-conscience-face-to-face/) [Alice Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cary/) > [Civilization is that mode of conduct which points out to man the path of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/civilization-is-that-mode-of-conduct-which-points-out-to-man-the-path-2/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The path of duty lies in what is near, and men seek for it in what is remote; the work of duty lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/the-path-of-duty-lies-in-what-is-near-and-men-seek-for-it-in-what-is/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [“Not once or twice in our fair island-story, The path of duty was the way to glory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/not-once-or-twice-in-our-fair-island-story-the-path-of-duty-was-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [When you are in the line of your duty, it is like standing in front of a line of posts, and every post is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/when-you-are-in-the-line-of-your-duty-it-is-like-standing-in-front-of/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [But, sir, I shall take the path of duty and shall not swerve from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-f-wade/but-sir-i-shall-take-the-path-of-duty-and-shall-not-swerve-from-it/) [Benjamin F. Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-f-wade/) > [Not once or twice in our rough island story, The path of duty was the way to glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/not-once-or-twice-in-our-rough-island-story-the-path-of-duty-was-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The fruits of the earth do not more obviously require labor and cultivation to prepare them for our use and subsistence, than our faculties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/the-fruits-of-the-earth-do-not-more-obviously-require-labor-and/) [Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Children learn best by observing adults action, not by receiving instructions!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mendoza/children-learn-best-by-observing-adults-action-not-by-receiving/) [Liz Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mendoza/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Astonish me! (Instruction to photographers)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-brodovitch/astonish-me-instruction-to-photographers/) [Alexey Brodovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-brodovitch/) > [I think accepting an instruction is part of a player's responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-think-accepting-an-instruction-is-part-of-a-player-s-responsibility/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## 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": "What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. 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