--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alas! When duty grows thy law, enjoyment…" description: "\"Alas! When duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.\" — Friedrich Schiller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/friedrich-schiller-832_alas_alas-when-duty-grows-thy-law-enjoyment-f_2730963.png" --- # Alas! When duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away. ![“Alas! When duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.” quote by Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/friedrich-schiller-832_alas_alas-when-duty-grows-thy-law-enjoyment-f_2730963.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/friedrich-schiller-832_alas_alas-when-duty-grows-thy-law-enjoyment-f_2730963.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/friedrich-schiller-832_alas_alas-when-duty-grows-thy-law-enjoyment-f_2730963.png) > “Alas! When duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.” [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When duty dominates, pleasure diminishes. **In simple terms:** Duty reduces enjoyment. Key Takeaway Balance duty with joy. Themes responsibility pleasure balance Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal time management - family life Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain joy while fulfilling duty? - What boundaries protect personal happiness? A Different Perspective May be idealized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) [Alas Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas-duty-2955102/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-grows-2955099/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Enjoyment Fades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment-fades-2955098/) [Fade away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fade-away/) [Fades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fades/) [Fades Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fades-away-258599/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enjoyment-640057/) ## Related quotes > [Duty grows everywhere--like children, like grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/duty-grows-everywhere-like-children-like-grass/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“As Maximus further concludes, the three laws exhibit the principal ends to which human nature is called: the natural law grants us the fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-behr/as-maximus-further-concludes-the-three-laws-exhibit-the-principal/) [John Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-behr/) > [When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms, the whole world just fades away. The only thing I hear is the beating of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/when-i-m-lying-wrapped-up-in-your-arms-the-whole-world-just-fades/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [As time passes, my story fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-dravecky/as-time-passes-my-story-fades-away/) [Dave Dravecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-dravecky/) > [Do nothing and hope the enemy fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabius-maximus/do-nothing-and-hope-the-enemy-fades-away/) [Fabius Maximus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabius-maximus/) > [When our star shines, someone else's fades away; when our dream is fulfilled, someone else's turns into a nightmare!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-our-star-shines-someone-else-s-fades-away-when-our-dream-is/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Politics, differences of religion or race, all that fades away when we are confronted with the awesome power of nature, and we're reminded that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/politics-differences-of-religion-or-race-all-that-fades-away-when-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You can't choose what stays and what fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-fades-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The poet lights the light and fades away. But the light goes on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-poet-lights-the-light-and-fades-away-but-the-light-goes-on-and-on/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [You know, your voice can only last for so long. It's a muscle and when you get older it sort of fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/you-know-your-voice-can-only-last-for-so-long-it-s-a-muscle-and-when/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [You can't choose what stays and what fades away it just happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-fades-away-it-just-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Alucard never dies. He only fades away...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohta-hirano/alucard-never-dies-he-only-fades-away/) [Kohta Hirano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohta-hirano/) > [“Time slowly fades away but no matter how many years pass I'll never forget you 'cause for me you'll always be the right one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-p/time-slowly-fades-away-but-no-matter-how-many-years-pass-i-ll-never/) [Me :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-p/) > [“Listen close and all else fades, fades away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-johnson/listen-close-and-all-else-fades-fades-away/) [Jack Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-johnson/) > [Beauty fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-fades-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Friedrich Schiller > [An axe at home saves hiring a carpenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/an-axe-at-home-saves-hiring-a-carpenter/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is well for a man when he has learned to endure what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-well-for-a-man-when-he-has-learned-to-endure-what-he-cannot/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [I have enjoyed the happiness of the world; I have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/i-have-enjoyed-the-happiness-of-the-world-i-have-loved/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is easy to give advice from a port of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-easy-to-give-advice-from-a-port-of-safety/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Why should I deem myself to be a chisel, when I could be the artist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/why-should-i-deem-myself-to-be-a-chisel-when-i-could-be-the-artist/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is through beauty that we arrive at freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-through-beauty-that-we-arrive-at-freedom/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The first great law is to obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-first-great-law-is-to-obey/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [To gain a crown by fighting is great, to reject it divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/to-gain-a-crown-by-fighting-is-great-to-reject-it-divine/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Even the weak become strong when they are united.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/even-the-weak-become-strong-when-they-are-united/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/man-only-plays-when-in-the-full-meaning-of-the-word-he-is-a-man-and/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Ah, to that far distant strand Bridge there was not to convey, Not a bark was near at hand, Yet true love soon found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/ah-to-that-far-distant-strand-bridge-there-was-not-to-convey-not-a/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/a-gloomy-guest-fits-not-a-wedding-feast/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [If you have never seen beauty in a moment of suffering, you have never seen beauty at all. If you have never seen joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/if-you-have-never-seen-beauty-in-a-moment-of-suffering-you-have-never/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Fear of death is worse than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/fear-of-death-is-worse-than-dying/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The dream is short, repentance long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-dream-is-short-repentance-long/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) [Explore all 350 Friedrich Schiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) [Browse all 453 Alas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Alas! 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