---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has two duties - to be worried and…"
description: "\"One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.\" — E. M. Forster"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png"
---

#  One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.

![“One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.” quote by E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png)

> “One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.”

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

One must balance concern with calm; both worry and composure have roles in living wisely.

**In simple terms:** Balance worry and calm.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both concern and peace.

Themes

psychology well‑being philosophy

Mood

thoughtful balanced

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- stress management
- decision making
- personal growth

Key Concepts

anxiety mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- When is worry useful?
- How can calm aid decision making?

A Different Perspective

Excessive worry can paralyze action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Duties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [But I'm not worried...No I'm not worried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-dewyze/but-i-m-not-worried-no-i-m-not-worried/)

[Lee Dewyze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-dewyze/)

> [Intelligence reports say Castro is very worried about me. I'm very worried that we can't come up with something to justify his worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/intelligence-reports-say-castro-is-very-worried-about-me-i-m-very/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [“Cats have nine lives. Sons do not. Were times when I worried. Worried a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cruickshank/cats-have-nine-lives-sons-do-not-were-times-when-i-worried-worried-a/)

[Ken Cruickshank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cruickshank/)

> [I am a notorious and constant worrier. I'm worried if I'm not worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-crome/i-am-a-notorious-and-constant-worrier-i-m-worried-if-i-m-not-worried/)

[Karla Crome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-crome/)

> [Some duties exist simply because we are part of a larger family or community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/some-duties-exist-simply-because-we-are-part-of-a-larger-family-or/)

[Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/)

> [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/)

[Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/)

> [I'm a worrier by nature. My husband says that if I'm not worried about something, I'm worried about what I've forgotten to be worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-m-a-worrier-by-nature-my-husband-says-that-if-i-m-not-worried-about/)

[Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/)

> [“Peabody, with me." She waited until they were back in her office. "Don't hover over McNab like that." "Sir?" "You hover over him, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/peabody-with-me-she-waited-until-they-were-back-in-her-office-don-t/)

[J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/)

> [“I know he's right to be worried about us, because I'm worried about us too. I don't understand how relationships work. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gayle/i-know-he-s-right-to-be-worried-about-us-because-i-m-worried-about-us/)

[Mike Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gayle/)

> [“I Worried" I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-worried-i-worried-a-lot-will-the-garden-grow-will-the-rivers-flow/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [“Cats have nine lives. Sons do not. There were times when I worried. Worried a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cruickshank/cats-have-nine-lives-sons-do-not-there-were-times-when-i-worried/)

[Ken Cruickshank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cruickshank/)

> [You aren't worried are you?" "Why should I be worried? It's just another day in the neighborhood. You know - bombs, fires, people shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-aren-t-worried-are-you-why-should-i-be-worried-it-s-just-another/)

[Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/)

> [I bet you're worried. I was worried. I was worried about vaginas. I was worried about what we think about vaginas, and even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/i-bet-you-re-worried-i-was-worried-i-was-worried-about-vaginas-i-was/)

[Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/)

> [I'm almost completely deaf anyway. So I'm worried. I'm very worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-m-almost-completely-deaf-anyway-so-i-m-worried-i-m-very-worried/)

[Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/)

> [Why are you so worried about them? They're not worried about you! Just 'do you' &amp; everything will work out like it's supposed too!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-are-you-so-worried-about-them-they-re-not-worried-about-you-just/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by E. M. Forster

> [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Reverence is fatal to literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/reverence-is-fatal-to-literature/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [This element of surprise or mystery - the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called - is of great importance in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/this-element-of-surprise-or-mystery-the-detective-element-as-it-is/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/railway-termini-are-our-gates-to-the-glorious-and-the-unknown/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Ah, but you see, I didn't want to be fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/ah-but-you-see-i-didn-t-want-to-be-fair/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/the-final-test-for-a-novel-will-be-our-affection-for-it-as-it-is-the/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [America is rather like life. You can usually find in it what you look for It will probably be interesting, and it is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/america-is-rather-like-life-you-can-usually-find-in-it-what-you-look/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [A critic has no right to the narrowness which is the frequent prerogative of the creative artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/a-critic-has-no-right-to-the-narrowness-which-is-the-frequent/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [All men are equal — all men, that is to say, who possess umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/all-men-are-equal-all-men-that-is-to-say-who-possess-umbrellas/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Before the civil war, Pottibakia was a normal member of the Comity of Nations. She erected tariff walls, broke treaties, persecuted minorities, obstructed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/before-the-civil-war-pottibakia-was-a-normal-member-of-the-comity-of/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Chess is a forcing house where the fruits of character can ripen more fully than in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/chess-is-a-forcing-house-where-the-fruits-of-character-can-ripen-more/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [I distrust Great Men... I believe in aristocracy, though... Its members are to be found in all nations and classes, and all through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/i-distrust-great-men-i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-its-members-are/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/liking-one-person-is-an-extra-reason-for-liking-another/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [We are not concerned with the very poor. They are unthinkable, and only to be approached by the statistician or the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/we-are-not-concerned-with-the-very-poor-they-are-unthinkable-and-only/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

[Explore all 287 E. M. Forster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

Nagisa Tatsumi

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "E. M. Forster"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/e-m-forster-1118_anxiety_one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not_296874.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.” — E. M. Forster",
                "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": "E. M. Forster",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "One has two duties - to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
