--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No duty is more urgent than that of…" description: "\"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.\" — James Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png" --- # No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. ![“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” quote by James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png) > “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expressing gratitude promptly is a vital moral responsibility, more pressing than many other duties. **In simple terms:** Thanking promptly is essential. Key Takeaway Make gratitude a priority. Themes ethics gratitude responsibility Mood appreciative reflective Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace - customer service - family gatherings Key Concepts moral duty social reciprocity Questions to Reflect On - How often do you delay expressing thanks? - What impact does timely gratitude have on others? A Different Perspective Neglecting thanks can damage trust and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful/) ## Related quotes > [I do not think that we have a “right” to happiness. If happiness happens, say thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/i-do-not-think-that-we-have-a-right-to-happiness-if-happiness-happens/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Give thanks to God first because without him you wouldn't have everything else that you're thankful for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/give-thanks-to-god-first-because-without-him-you-wouldn-t-have/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [BdVotH Im thankful for the blog article.Thanks Again. Much obliged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheap-oem-software/bdvoth-im-thankful-for-the-blog-article-thanks-again-much-obliged/) Cheap Oem Software > [Thanks are justly due for boons unbought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thanks-are-justly-due-for-boons-unbought/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Love. Be thankful. Appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-riccitello/love-be-thankful-appreciate/) [Dominic Riccitello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-riccitello/) > [Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/take-heed-then-often-to-come-together-to-give-thanks-to-god-and-show/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [“Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord for the gift of life. Thank you Lord for divine protection. Thank you Lord for daily guidance. Thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-giftyakita/thank-you-lord-thank-you-lord-for-the-gift-of-life-thank-you-lord-for-2/) [Lailah GiftyAkita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-giftyakita/) > [Im thankful for the post.Thanks Again. Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bookmarking/im-thankful-for-the-post-thanks-again-cool/) Bookmarking > [The property of the people belongs to the people. To take it from them by taxation cannot be justified except by urgent public necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-property-of-the-people-belongs-to-the-people-to-take-it-from-them/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [We embark unhesitatingly on the path, in a direction that is absolutely right and urgent, supported by everyone, in the knowledge that this path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/we-embark-unhesitatingly-on-the-path-in-a-direction-that-is/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [People will pay a price for putting political obstruction over progress in a time that is so critical and urgent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/people-will-pay-a-price-for-putting-political-obstruction-over/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) ## More by James Allen > [A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-person-is-limited-only-by-the-thoughts-that-he-chooses/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which it fears;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-soul-attracts-that-which-it-secretly-harbours-that-which-it-loves/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought, are governed by the same law and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/all-achievements-whether-in-the-business-intellectual-or-spiritual/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“Cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. Mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/cause-and-effect-is-as-absolute-and-undeviating-in-the-hidden-realm/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/men-do-not-attract-that-which-they-want-but-that-which-they-are/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/he-who-would-accomplish-little-must-sacrifice-little-he-who-would/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of effort is the measure of the results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/in-all-human-affairs-there-are-efforts-and-there-are-results-and-the/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [The knowledge of the causal power of thought is the basis of all their (Hebrew) prophecies, as it is the basis of all real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-knowledge-of-the-causal-power-of-thought-is-the-basis-of-all/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/mind-is-the-master-weaver-both-of-the-inner-garment-of-character-and/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, of fortune,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-thoughtless-the-ignorant-and-the-indolent-seeing-only-the/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-man-sooner-or-later-discovers-that-he-is-the-master-gardener-of-his/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Rely upon your own judgment; be true to your own conscience; follow the light that is within you; all outward lights are so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/rely-upon-your-own-judgment-be-true-to-your-own-conscience-follow-the/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/by-the-right-choice-and-true-application-of-thought-man-ascends-to/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“Without self-discipline a man drifts lower and lower, approximating more and more nearly to the beast, until at last he grovels, a lost creature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/without-self-discipline-a-man-drifts-lower-and-lower-approximating/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Spiritual meditation is the pathway to Divinity. It is a mystic ladder which reaches from earth to heaven, from error to Truth, from pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/spiritual-meditation-is-the-pathway-to-divinity-it-is-a-mystic-ladder/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) [Explore all 220 James Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) ## More Duty quotes > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/) [Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Browse all 5,178 Duty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-returning-thanks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-returning-thanks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/james-allen-1607_duty_no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-retu_3071348.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” — James Allen", "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": "James Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No duty is more urgent than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-returning-thanks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/no-duty-is-more-urgent-than-that-of-returning-thanks/#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 } } ] } ```