--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This desk of mine is one at which a man…" description: "\"This desk of mine is one at which a man may die, but from which he cannot resign.\" — Dwight D. Eisenhower" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_desk_this-desk-of-mine-is-one-at-which-a-man_3004370.jpg" --- # This desk of mine is one at which a man may die, but from… ![“This desk of mine is one at which a man may die, but from which he cannot resign.” quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_desk_this-desk-of-mine-is-one-at-which-a-man_3004370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_desk_this-desk-of-mine-is-one-at-which-a-man_3004370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_desk_this-desk-of-mine-is-one-at-which-a-man_3004370.jpg) > “This desk of mine is one at which a man may die, but from which he cannot resign.” [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The desk symbolizes a place of responsibility where one can die but cannot quit, reflecting duty and commitment. **In simple terms:** A desk where you can die but not quit, symbolizing duty. Key Takeaway Embrace responsibility despite discomfort. Themes duty responsibility commitment Mood serious thoughtful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - military service - public office - career choices - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts existentialism work ethic Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities feel inescapable? - How do you balance duty and wellbeing? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desk/) [Desk Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desk-man-4785778/) [Desks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desks/) [Die Resign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-resign-2950016/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Resign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resign/) ## Related quotes > [I'm so entirely sick of life, can't I just resign? Not die but resign from this life and death game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-entirely-sick-of-life-can-t-i-just-resign-not-die-but-resign/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [I've never really had a desk job, but I've died one day at a time all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-ve-never-really-had-a-desk-job-but-i-ve-died-one-day-at-a-time-all/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [My favorite part of writing a book is thinking up the ideas, and that can start a long time before I actually sit down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/my-favorite-part-of-writing-a-book-is-thinking-up-the-ideas-and-that/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [Here's what I love: I love sitting at my desk, staring at the blank screen, and beginning that conversation with my imaginary friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/here-s-what-i-love-i-love-sitting-at-my-desk-staring-at-the-blank/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) > [To design a desk which may cost $1,000 is easy for a furniture designer but to design a functional and good desk which shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingvar-kamprad/to-design-a-desk-which-may-cost-1-000-is-easy-for-a-furniture/) [Ingvar Kamprad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingvar-kamprad/) > [Most working days I can be at my desk for nine hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-doyle/most-working-days-i-can-be-at-my-desk-for-nine-hours-a-day/) [Roddy Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-doyle/) > [I don't have a Bloomberg on my desk. I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/i-don-t-have-a-bloomberg-on-my-desk-i-don-t-care/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [It seemed to me that I should have a desk, even though I had no real need for a desk. I was afraid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/it-seemed-to-me-that-i-should-have-a-desk-even-though-i-had-no-real/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [I have three boxes on my desk: In, Out, and Too Hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-have-three-boxes-on-my-desk-in-out-and-too-hard/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I'm terrible in the mornings, but I'm always at my desk by 10 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-herbert/i-m-terrible-in-the-mornings-but-i-m-always-at-my-desk-by-10-a-m/) [James Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-herbert/) > [The way I see it, more people are wired with broadband from 9 to 5 during the day than watch TV at night. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-burnett/the-way-i-see-it-more-people-are-wired-with-broadband-from-9-to-5/) [Mark Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-burnett/) > [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-stand-upon-my-desk-to-remind-myself-that-we-must-constantly-look-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dwight D. Eisenhower > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/every-gun-that-is-made-every-warship-launched-every-rocket-fired/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [We have won an armistice on a single battlefield, not peace in our world. We may not now relax our guard nor cease our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-won-an-armistice-on-a-single-battlefield-not-peace-in-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Things are more like they are now than they ever were before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/things-are-more-like-they-are-now-than-they-ever-were-before/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/soldiers-sailors-and-airmen-of-the-allied-expeditionary-force-you-are/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/don-t-join-the-book-burners-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-conceal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Knowledge-full, unfettered knowledge of its own heritage, of freedom's enemies, of the whole world of men and ideas-this knowledge is a free people's surest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/knowledge-full-unfettered-knowledge-of-its-own-heritage-of-freedom-s/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Any nations right to a form of government and economic system of its own choosing is inalienable. Any nations attempt to dictate to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/any-nations-right-to-a-form-of-government-and-economic-system-of-its/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The peace we seek, founded upon decent trust and cooperation among nations, can be fortified not by weapons of war but by wheat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-peace-we-seek-founded-upon-decent-trust-and-cooperation-among/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The only way to win World War III is to prevent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-only-way-to-win-world-war-iii-is-to-prevent-it/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I’m going to pass a law that no one can ask me my golf score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-m-going-to-pass-a-law-that-no-one-can-ask-me-my-golf-score/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [For all that we cherish and justly desire - for ourselves or for our children - the securing of peace is the first requisite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/for-all-that-we-cherish-and-justly-desire-for-ourselves-or-for-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Never waste a minute thinking about people you don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/never-waste-a-minute-thinking-about-people-you-don-t-like/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/do-not-needlessly-endanger-your-lives-until-i-give-you-the-signal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) [Explore all 515 Dwight D. Eisenhower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) ## More Desk quotes > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [I write at a desk. I have a room of my own where I can have my computer. I write in there, usually directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-bunting/i-write-at-a-desk-i-have-a-room-of-my-own-where-i-can-have-my/) [Eve Bunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-bunting/) > [When somebody was looking in my locker, it was like going in my desk. Somebody happened to be looking in my locker when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bonilla/when-somebody-was-looking-in-my-locker-it-was-like-going-in-my-desk/) [Bobby Bonilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bonilla/) > [When you hear of somebody named Goldberg, you think of a guy sitting behind a desk investing your money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/when-you-hear-of-somebody-named-goldberg-you-think-of-a-guy-sitting/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [I didn't want to spend my life behind a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gilpin/i-didn-t-want-to-spend-my-life-behind-a-desk/) [John Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gilpin/) > [I've always had a picture of the White House and it would always sit right in front of my desk. Whenever I was having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-grisham/i-ve-always-had-a-picture-of-the-white-house-and-it-would-always-sit/) [Stephanie Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-grisham/) > [A handwritten Declaration of Independence was on my bedroom wall and the Founding Fathers were above my desk in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/a-handwritten-declaration-of-independence-was-on-my-bedroom-wall-and/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [“I’d much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcphee/i-d-much-rather-watch-people-do-what-they-do-than-talk-to-them-across/) [John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/) > [“At least the tears on my desk wipe away the dust that's covered this place”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-boddie/at-least-the-tears-on-my-desk-wipe-away-the-dust-that-s-covered-this/) [Andrew Boddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-boddie/) > [If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/if-i-still-had-my-legs-i-would-be-in-line-for-a-battalion-command-and/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [We are able to use technology to make it clear that someone's car is available or a room in a home is accessible; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gansky/we-are-able-to-use-technology-to-make-it-clear-that-someone-s-car-is/) [Lisa Gansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gansky/) > [I can only write new words at my desk, the one I've owned for 25 years. When we moved to our new house I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-can-only-write-new-words-at-my-desk-the-one-i-ve-owned-for-25-years/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [Most people dream a dream when they are asleep. But to be a writer, you have to dream while you are awake, intentionally. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/most-people-dream-a-dream-when-they-are-asleep-but-to-be-a-writer-you/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If you look at my desk... it's profoundly disorganised - which is why I can work on search.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-rasmussen/if-you-look-at-my-desk-it-s-profoundly-disorganised-which-is-why-i/) [Lars Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-rasmussen/) [Browse all 258 Desk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desk/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This desk of mine is one at which a man may die, but from which he cannot resign.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dwight D. 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