--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us don't mind doing what we ought…" description: "\"Most of us don't mind doing what we ought to do when it doesn't interfere with what we want to do, but it takes discipline and maturity to do what we o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/joseph-b-wirthlin-822_discipline_most-of-us-don-t-mind-doing-what-we-ough_905424.png" --- # Most of us don't mind doing what we ought to do when it… ![“Most of us don't mind doing what we ought to do when it doesn't interfere with what we want to do, but it takes discipline and maturity to do what we ought to do whether we want to or not.” quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/joseph-b-wirthlin-822_discipline_most-of-us-don-t-mind-doing-what-we-ough_905424.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/joseph-b-wirthlin-822_discipline_most-of-us-don-t-mind-doing-what-we-ough_905424.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/joseph-b-wirthlin-822_discipline_most-of-us-don-t-mind-doing-what-we-ough_905424.png) > “Most of us don't mind doing what we ought to do when it doesn't interfere with what we want to do, but it takes discipline and maturity to do what we ought to do whether we want to or not.” [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doing what is right regardless of desire requires self‑control and growth. **In simple terms:** Discipline means doing duty even when you don’t want to. Key Takeaway Cultivate discipline to act on duty. Themes discipline morality personal growth responsibility maturity Mood serious determined thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - making tough choices at work - sticking to a workout plan - fulaying gratification for long‑term goals Key Concepts self‑control ethical decision‑making character development Questions to Reflect On - What duties do you avoid because they’re uncomfortable? - How can you strengthen your discipline? A Different Perspective May conflict with personal happiness if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-doing-what-we-ought-we-deserve-no-praise-because-it-is-our-duty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If doing what ought to be done be made the first business and success a secondary consideration--is not this the way to exalt virtue?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-doing-what-ought-to-be-done-be-made-the-first-business-and-success/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In doing what we ought we deserve no praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-doing-what-we-ought-we-deserve-no-praise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think you should ever insult people unintentionally: if you're doing it, you ought to mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-insult-people-unintentionally-if-you-re/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/do-not-even-think-of-doing-what-ought-not-to-be-done/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Most people spend most of their lives doing neither what they want to be doing nor what they ought to be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/most-people-spend-most-of-their-lives-doing-neither-what-they-want-to/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“It's easy enough to be sensible for other people. But when it comes to myself, there I am! Especially, when I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dean-howells/it-s-easy-enough-to-be-sensible-for-other-people-but-when-it-comes-to/) [William Dean Howells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dean-howells/) > [Success is doing what you ought to do the way you ought to do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kporto/success-is-doing-what-you-ought-to-do-the-way-you-ought-to-do-it/) Kporto > [True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/true-liberty-consists-only-in-the-power-of-doing-what-we-ought-to/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought nor what I liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-now-see-that-i-spent-most-of-my-life-in-doing-neither-what-i-ought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It takes discipline to focus only on high-value targets instead of giving in to the temptation of the low-hanging fruit life serves up daily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-divine/it-takes-discipline-to-focus-only-on-high-value-targets-instead-of/) [Mark Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-divine/) > [“It takes discipline to turn illusion into reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/it-takes-discipline-to-turn-illusion-into-reality/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [Any asshole can chase a skirt, art takes discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/any-asshole-can-chase-a-skirt-art-takes-discipline/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I'm very interested in writing - it just takes so much discipline, whether it's short stories or novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-m-very-interested-in-writing-it-just-takes-so-much-discipline/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [It takes discipline to be a free spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-roth/it-takes-discipline-to-be-a-free-spirit/) [Gabrielle Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-roth/) ## More by Joseph B. Wirthlin > [As we progress and become more like the Savior, we can strengthen every group with whom we associate, including families and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/as-we-progress-and-become-more-like-the-savior-we-can-strengthen/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [There was never any doubt of Christ's priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/there-was-never-any-doubt-of-christ-s-priorities/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/although-we-might-settle-for-less-heavenly-father-won-t-for-he-sees/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [My father was truly a great man. I remember one day putting my feet in my father's shoes. I was amazed at the size.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/my-father-was-truly-a-great-man-i-remember-one-day-putting-my-feet-in/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The Savior was selfless. He viewed himself and his own needs as secondary, and he ministered to others tirelessly, lovingly, effectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-savior-was-selfless-he-viewed-himself-and-his-own-needs-as/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Come what may and love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/come-what-may-and-love-it/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [When the Savior Himself was born, there were troubled times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/when-the-savior-himself-was-born-there-were-troubled-times/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Logic itself affirms that a loving Heavenly Father would not abandon His children without providing a way for them to learn of Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/logic-itself-affirms-that-a-loving-heavenly-father-would-not-abandon/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Building our homes as fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/building-our-homes-as-fortresses-of-righteousness-for-protection-from/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The most treasured and sacred moments of our lives are those filled with the spirit of love. The greater the measure of our love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-most-treasured-and-sacred-moments-of-our-lives-are-those-filled/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Desire, burning desire, is basic to achieving anything beyond the ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/desire-burning-desire-is-basic-to-achieving-anything-beyond-the/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [In the lonely hours, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about eternal things. I have contemplated the comforting doctrines of eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/in-the-lonely-hours-i-have-spent-a-great-deal-of-time-thinking-about/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/when-we-make-purchases-on-credit-they-give-us-only-an-illusion-of/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The Spirit is as operative today in communicating the gospel to all who seek the truth as it was on the day of Pentecost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-spirit-is-as-operative-today-in-communicating-the-gospel-to-all/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Lying, stealing, and cheating are commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/lying-stealing-and-cheating-are-commonplace/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) [Explore all 360 Joseph B. Wirthlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) ## More Discipline quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Stay in your seat come times of trouble. Its only people who jump off the roller coaster who get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harvey/stay-in-your-seat-come-times-of-trouble-its-only-people-who-jump-off/) [Paul Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harvey/) [Browse all 5,597 Discipline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of us don't mind doing what we ought to do when it doesn't interfere with what we want to do, but it takes discipline and maturity to do what we ought to do whether we want to or not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph B. 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