--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The constitution expects every man to do…" description: "\"The constitution expects every man to do his duty; and when he fails the law urges him; or should he do too much; the same master rebukes him.\" — Josep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png" --- # The constitution expects every man to do his duty; and… ![“The constitution expects every man to do his duty; and when he fails the law urges him; or should he do too much; the same master rebukes him.” quote by Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png) > “The constitution expects every man to do his duty; and when he fails the law urges him; or should he do too much; the same master rebukes him.” [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Law expects duty; excess or neglect leads to correction; moderation is key. **In simple terms:** Law demands balanced duty. Key Takeaway Stay balanced. Themes law duty moderation balance Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type ethical practical When to use this quote - workplace expectations - government policy - family roles Key Concepts civic responsibility personal ethics Questions to Reflect On - What duties are essential? - How to avoid overcommitment? A Different Perspective Overemphasis can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Expects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-expects-1841588/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Fails Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fails-law-1841591/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-urges-1841589/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Master Rebukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master-rebukes-1841590/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Rebuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebuke/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges/) ## Related quotes > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Better is open rebuke than hidden love. -Proverbs 27:5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/better-is-open-rebuke-than-hidden-love-proverbs-27-5/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [One of the things that makes a Negro unpleasant to white folk is the fact that he suffers from their injustice. He is thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/one-of-the-things-that-makes-a-negro-unpleasant-to-white-folk-is-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [For kind of sophisticated art I'm interested in, the larger structural rebuke has to be so subtle that it has to be distributed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/for-kind-of-sophisticated-art-i-m-interested-in-the-larger-structural/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Hope for a great sea-change timid to rebuke and too petty to forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/hope-for-a-great-sea-change-timid-to-rebuke-and-too-petty-to-forgive/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [“One's rebuke engraves itself upon the mind more than one's praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-d/one-s-rebuke-engraves-itself-upon-the-mind-more-than-one-s-praise/) [Seth D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-d/) > [The way to stimulate and provoke others unto good works is to strive to outrun them in the race. The way to rebuke the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-way-to-stimulate-and-provoke-others-unto-good-works-is-to-strive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Combativeness was, I suppose, the dominant trait in my grandmother's nature. An aggressive churchgoer, she was quite without Christian feeling; the mercy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/combativeness-was-i-suppose-the-dominant-trait-in-my-grandmother-s/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given, That brought into this world a world of woe, Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery, Death's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/anger-and-just-rebuke-and-judgment-given-that-brought-into-this-world/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [He does not show humility who accuses himself (for who will not accept rebukes from himself?), but he who, being rebuked by another, does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/he-does-not-show-humility-who-accuses-himself-for-who-will-not-accept/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/holding-on-to-anger-is-like-grasping-a-hot-coal-with-the-intent-of/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [People who have a seeking heart still make mistakes. But their reaction to rebuke and correction shows the condition of that heart. It determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/people-who-have-a-seeking-heart-still-make-mistakes-but-their/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [If you're going to offer a position of great power and importance to somebody, you're not gonna do that publicly unless you know they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-re-going-to-offer-a-position-of-great-power-and-importance-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Leaders spend time reviewing their mistakes rather than having fantasies over their achievements! They look for every way to do the undone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-spend-time-reviewing-their-mistakes-rather-than-having/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Abba Macarius said, 'If you rebuke someone and do it with anger, you have allowed a passion to control you. You have not saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vivian/abba-macarius-said-if-you-rebuke-someone-and-do-it-with-anger-you/) [Tim Vivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vivian/) ## More by Joseph Smith, Jr > [ According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I \[the Lord\] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/according-to-the-laws-and-constitution-of-the-people-which-i-the-lord/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/all-your-losses-will-be-made-up-to-you-in-the-resurrection-provided/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. For if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/a-man-is-saved-no-faster-than-he-gets-knowledge-for-if-he-does-not/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there-is-no-error-in-the/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ \[W\]e shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have acted conscientiously, and have used our best judgment. And if we have to throw… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/w-e-shall-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-we-have-acted/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [If I had not actually got into this work and been called of God, I would back out. But I cannot back out: I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/if-i-had-not-actually-got-into-this-work-and-been-called-of-god-i/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-will-prove-that-the-world-is-wrong-by-showing-what-god-is-god/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/one-of-the-grand-fundamental-principles-of-mormonism-is-to-receive/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-thought-it-was-right-to-call-up-a-man-and-try-him-because-he/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [The laundry has its hands on my dirty shirts, sheets, towels and tablecloths, and who knows what tales they tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-laundry-has-its-hands-on-my-dirty-shirts-sheets-towels-and/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [When we are accomplishing the good, the greatest opposition comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/when-we-are-accomplishing-the-good-the-greatest-opposition-comes/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Salvation cannot come without revelation. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/salvation-cannot-come-without-revelation-men-of-the-present-time/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ Will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs \[the ancient saints'\] if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/will-not-the-lord-hear-my-prayers-and-listen-to-my-cries-as-soon-as/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/let-the-saints-remember-that-great-things-depend-on-their-individual/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/friendship-is-the-grand-fundamental-principle-of-mormonism/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) [Explore all 219 Joseph Smith, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The constitution expects every man to do his duty; and when he fails the law urges him; or should he do too much; the same master rebukes him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Smith, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty-and-when-he-fails/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty-and-when-he-fails/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do_2588687.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The constitution expects every man to do his duty; and when he fails the law urges him; or should he do too…” — Joseph Smith, Jr", "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": "Joseph Smith, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The constitution expects every man to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty-and-when-he-fails/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-constitution-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty-and-when-he-fails/#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 } } ] } ```