--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A student under my care owes his first…" description: "\"A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work as if he followed no other ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png" --- # A student under my care owes his first allegiance to… ![“A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work as if he followed no other and had contracted no obligation under heaven but that of satisfying my requirements.” quote by Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png) > “A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work as if he followed no other and had contracted no obligation under heaven but that of satisfying my requirements.” [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Students should prioritize personal integrity over conforming to a teacher’s expectations, recognizing their own moral responsibility. **In simple terms:** Put yourself first, not just the teacher’s demands. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent judgment. Themes education ethics autonomy Mood reflective serious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - academic mentorship - career guidance - self‑development - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts moral philosophy personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal goals with external expectations? - What responsibilities do teachers have to foster independence? A Different Perspective May neglecting personal values harm long‑term growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [Every U.S. citizen owes allegiance to our nation. Some Americans consider that anything less than high treason is allegiance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/every-u-s-citizen-owes-allegiance-to-our-nation-some-americans/) [Cullen Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cullen-hightower/) > [That is one of the flagrant misconceptions about Catholicism in America that if a man is a Catholic he owes allegiance to what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/that-is-one-of-the-flagrant-misconceptions-about-catholicism-in/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [Big box just wasn't our strength. We are a men's and boy's specialty store focused on providing high quality clothing with custom tailoring. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/big-box-just-wasn-t-our-strength-we-are-a-men-s-and-boy-s-specialty/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [When we have laws that compartmentalize medical information, and when we have paper systems that compartmentalize medical information, you sometimes have a doctor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/when-we-have-laws-that-compartmentalize-medical-information-and-when/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I don't like purely philosophical works. I think a little philosophy should be added to life and art by way of seasoning, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/i-don-t-like-purely-philosophical-works-i-think-a-little-philosophy/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [The new specialty at the Iowa fair this year is fried butter on a stick. Of course, if you're like me and you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-new-specialty-at-the-iowa-fair-this-year-is-fried-butter-on-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [love as a passion—it is our European specialty—must absolutely be of noble origin; as is well known, its invention is due to the Provencal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/love-as-a-passion-it-is-our-european-specialty-must-absolutely-be-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Impossible situations are our specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/impossible-situations-are-our-specialty/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Public interest in most of the Middle East was slight at that time; the Arab-Israeli conflict was all that people were interested in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-cole/public-interest-in-most-of-the-middle-east-was-slight-at-that-time/) [Juan Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-cole/) > [My specialty as a collector is books that almost have value. When I love a book, I don't buy the first edition, because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/my-specialty-as-a-collector-is-books-that-almost-have-value-when-i/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [There's so much knowledge to be had that specialists cling to their specialties as a shield against having to know anything about anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-s-so-much-knowledge-to-be-had-that-specialists-cling-to-their/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [This is my specialty, I never lost hope, I never ever wanted to learn something, it is my weakness,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/this-is-my-specialty-i-never-lost-hope-i-never-ever-wanted-to-learn/) Mak\_786 > [The scientist rigorously defends his right to be ignorant of almost everything except his specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-scientist-rigorously-defends-his-right-to-be-ignorant-of-almost/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [We have had actually a decline in government service overall, but the growth is in high-tech areas, specialty areas in the Labor Department and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-herman/we-have-had-actually-a-decline-in-government-service-overall-but-the/) [Alexis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-herman/) > [Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. His specialty is rhythm songs which he renders in an undistinguished whine; his phrasing, if it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gould/mr-presley-has-no-discernible-singing-ability-his-specialty-is-rhythm/) [Jack Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gould/) ## More by Jacques Barzun > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [It seems a long time since the morning mail could be called correspondence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/it-seems-a-long-time-since-the-morning-mail-could-be-called/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/teaching-is-not-a-lost-art-but-the-regard-for-it-is-a-lost-tradition/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The reason why research is like sculpting from memory is that in neither is there a concrete visible subject to copy directly. The subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-reason-why-research-is-like-sculpting-from-memory-is-that-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Everybody keeps calling for Excellence - excellence not just in schooling, throughout society. But as soon as somebody or something stands out as Excellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/everybody-keeps-calling-for-excellence-excellence-not-just-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/bernard-shaw-remains-the-only-model-we-have-of-what-the-citizen-of-a/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The ascetic is often a sensualist who has reached the limit of his capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-ascetic-is-often-a-sensualist-who-has-reached-the-limit-of-his/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Idealism springs from deep feelings, but feelings are nothing without the formulated idea that keeps them whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/idealism-springs-from-deep-feelings-but-feelings-are-nothing-without/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/in-teaching-you-cannot-see-the-fruit-of-a-day-s-work-it-is-invisible/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The mind tends to run along the groove of one's intention and overlook the actual expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-mind-tends-to-run-along-the-groove-of-one-s-intention-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Vanity is a static thing. It puts it faith in what it has, and is easily wounded. Pride is active, and satisfied only with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/vanity-is-a-static-thing-it-puts-it-faith-in-what-it-has-and-is/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [By the time I was 9, I had the conviction that everybody in the world was an artist except plumbers or people who delivered groceries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/by-the-time-i-was-9-i-had-the-conviction-that-everybody-in-the-world/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [We are accustomed to the artist scoundrel or specialist in vice, and unaccustomed to the creator in whom passion and reason and moral integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/we-are-accustomed-to-the-artist-scoundrel-or-specialist-in-vice-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The professionals resemble and recognize each other by virtue of the stigmata that their trade has left upon them. They are like the dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-professionals-resemble-and-recognize-each-other-by-virtue-of-the/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Americans began by loving youth, and now, out of adult self-pity, they worship it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/americans-began-by-loving-youth-and-now-out-of-adult-self-pity-they/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) [Explore all 135 Jacques Barzun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) ## More Allegiance quotes > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [I was under the influence of the early modern masters, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck and Hemingway, especially, when I was a kid. I reacted against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-was-under-the-influence-of-the-early-modern-masters-fitzgerald-and/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [“The Pledge of Allegiance says 'liberty and justice for all'. Which part of 'all' don't you understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schroeder/the-pledge-of-allegiance-says-liberty-and-justice-for-all-which-part/) Pat Schroeder > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayshay/there-is-a-congratulatory-culture-in-the-gulf-from-birth-onwards/) Ayshay > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In my imaginary utopian world there would be a greater allegiance between music writers and musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-my-imaginary-utopian-world-there-would-be-a-greater-allegiance/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Let's do more than say the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Let us live it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/let-s-do-more-than-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance-let-us-live-it/) [Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“We're not to do everything man tells us to do. We are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and our allegiance to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/we-re-not-to-do-everything-man-tells-us-to-do-we-are-to-obey-the-lord/) [Joseph C. Morecraft III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Allegiance, after all, has to work two ways; and one can grow weary of an allegiance which is not reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegiance-after-all-has-to-work-two-ways-and-one-can-grow-weary-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it is right for Canadians to be asked to show their faces when they're taking the oath. On revocation of citizenship, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-think-it-is-right-for-canadians-to-be-asked-to-show-their-faces/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) [Browse all 409 Allegiance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work as if he followed no other and had contracted no obligation under heaven but that of satisfying my requirements.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacques Barzun" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Allegiance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/jacques-barzun-3251_allegiance_a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-a_296140.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be…” — Jacques Barzun", "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": "Jacques Barzun", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A student under my care owes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/#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 } } ] } ```