--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who performs his duty in a station of…" description: "\"He who performs his duty in a station of great power must needs incur the utter enmity of many, and the high displeasure of more.\" — Francis Atterbury" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/francis-atterbury-20391_displeasure_he-who-performs-his-duty-in-a-station-of_1154338.jpg" --- # He who performs his duty in a station of great power must… ![“He who performs his duty in a station of great power must needs incur the utter enmity of many, and the high displeasure of more.” quote by Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/francis-atterbury-20391_displeasure_he-who-performs-his-duty-in-a-station-of_1154338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/francis-atterbury-20391_displeasure_he-who-performs-his-duty-in-a-station-of_1154338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/francis-atterbury-20391_displeasure_he-who-performs-his-duty-in-a-station-of_1154338.jpg) > “He who performs his duty in a station of great power must needs incur the utter enmity of many, and the high displeasure of more.” [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding power invites envy and disapproval; duty brings conflict regardless of rank. **In simple terms:** Power brings enemies and criticism. Key Takeaway Accept conflict as part of responsibility. Themes authority conflict responsibility Mood serious reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership roles - public office - organizational management - community activism Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle criticism in leadership? - What strategies mitigate enmity? A Different Perspective Power can be used responsibly without backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Displeasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displeasure/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Great power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-power/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. 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He would accept it, he said, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-b-kopp/i-remember-a-group-therapy-session-when-one-of-the-patients-was/) [Sheldon B. Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-b-kopp/) > [A man in love ... is the master, so it seems, but only if his lady friend permits it! The need to interchange the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-desclos/a-man-in-love-is-the-master-so-it-seems-but-only-if-his-lady-friend/) [Anne Desclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-desclos/) > [Thus the will to power strives towards oppositions, towards displeasure. There is a will to suffering at the foundation of all organic life (contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/thus-the-will-to-power-strives-towards-oppositions-towards/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“It is the people who are displeased with injustice that can be a channel for social justice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-the-people-who-are-displeased-with-injustice-that-can-be-a/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Francis Atterbury > [The practice of all ages and all countries (whether Christian or heathen, polite or barbarous) hath been ... to do honour to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/the-practice-of-all-ages-and-all-countries-whether-christian-or/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [It’s attention to detail that makes the difference between average and stunning,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/it-s-attention-to-detail-that-makes-the-difference-between-average/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/those-good-men-who-take-such-pleasure-in-relieving-the-miserable-for/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [It is impossible to have a lively hope in another life, and yet be deeply immersed in the enjoyments of this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/it-is-impossible-to-have-a-lively-hope-in-another-life-and-yet-be/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [The things of another world being distant, operate but faintly upon us: to remedy this inconvenience, we must frequently revolve their certainty and importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/the-things-of-another-world-being-distant-operate-but-faintly-upon-us/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [From mere success nothing can be concluded in favor of any nation upon whom it is bestowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/from-mere-success-nothing-can-be-concluded-in-favor-of-any-nation/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety, with less reluctance than he took the first step while his conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/a-sturdy-hardened-sinner-shall-advance-to-the-utmost-pitch-of-impiety/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [A very prosperous people, flushed with great victories and successes, are seldom so pious, so humble, so just, or so provident as to perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/a-very-prosperous-people-flushed-with-great-victories-and-successes/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [A good character when established should not be rested in as an end, but only employed as a means of doing still further good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/a-good-character-when-established-should-not-be-rested-in-as-an-end/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [The smallest act of charity shall stand us in great stead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/the-smallest-act-of-charity-shall-stand-us-in-great-stead/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Few consider how much we are indebted to government, because few can represent how wretched mankind would be without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/few-consider-how-much-we-are-indebted-to-government-because-few-can/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Should we grieve over a little misplaced charity, when an all knowing, all wise Being showers down every day his benefits on the unthankful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/should-we-grieve-over-a-little-misplaced-charity-when-an-all-knowing/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Though fanaticism drinks at many founts, its predisposing cause is mostly the subject of an invisible futurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/though-fanaticism-drinks-at-many-founts-its-predisposing-cause-is/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Affliction is a school of virtue; it corrects levity, and interrupts the confidence of sinning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/affliction-is-a-school-of-virtue-it-corrects-levity-and-interrupts/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Nothing can be reckoned good or bad to us in this life, any further than it indisposes us for the enjoyment of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/nothing-can-be-reckoned-good-or-bad-to-us-in-this-life-any-further/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) [Explore all 31 Francis Atterbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) ## More Displeasure quotes > [You should be angry. 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The need to interchange the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-desclos/a-man-in-love-is-the-master-so-it-seems-but-only-if-his-lady-friend/) [Anne Desclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-desclos/) > [I remember a group therapy session when one of the patients was reluctantly turning his corner. He would accept it, he said, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-b-kopp/i-remember-a-group-therapy-session-when-one-of-the-patients-was/) [Sheldon B. Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-b-kopp/) > [Insensibility, of all kinds, and on all occasions, most moves my imperial displeasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/insensibility-of-all-kinds-and-on-all-occasions-most-moves-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You behold in me, Stephen said with grim displeasure, a horrible example of free thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/you-behold-in-me-stephen-said-with-grim-displeasure-a-horrible/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“For any display of displeasure or anger against injustice and ungodliness, there is a reward and a godly result.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/for-any-display-of-displeasure-or-anger-against-injustice-and/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Work addiction seems to be an addiction we are proud of. We almost seem to brag with mock displeasure that we are "overwhelmed" with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pearsall/work-addiction-seems-to-be-an-addiction-we-are-proud-of-we-almost/) [Paul Pearsall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pearsall/) > [It wasn't like I was some expert on the meaning of being supportive. Was it being loyal even against your better judgement? Or, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-wasn-t-like-i-was-some-expert-on-the-meaning-of-being-supportive/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs occasion equal displeasure in another. 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