--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No obligation to do the impossible is…" description: "\"No obligation to do the impossible is binding.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg" --- # No obligation to do the impossible is binding. ![“No obligation to do the impossible is binding.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg) > “No obligation to do the impossible is binding.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cicero argues that one is not obligated to attempt impossible tasks; obligations should be realistic and attainable. **In simple terms:** Only realistic duties bind us. Key Takeaway Focus on achievable responsibilities. Themes ethics pragmatism personal responsibility Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - project management Key Concepts duty feasibility goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What impossible goals motivate you? - When should we pursue the unattainable? A Different Perspective Impossible tasks can still inspire growth despite lack of binding duty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Binding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/binding/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Binding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-binding-4872381/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Obligation Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation-impossible-4872380/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [There is in fact a true law namely right reason, which is in accordance with nature, applies to all men and is unchangeable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/there-is-in-fact-a-true-law-namely-right-reason-which-is-in/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Our innate, built-in human value is the reason we have binding duties or obligations towards each other that we don't have towards any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/our-innate-built-in-human-value-is-the-reason-we-have-binding-duties/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [Everyone has the obligation to ponder well his own specific traits of character. He must also regulate them adequately and not wonder whether someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/everyone-has-the-obligation-to-ponder-well-his-own-specific-traits-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [My obligation right now is to do well for myself, my family, my employees, for my companies. And that's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/my-obligation-right-now-is-to-do-well-for-myself-my-family-my/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [When God put everybody here, I don't think that he had a master plan of a pecking order. That's not what you see in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-feldman/when-god-put-everybody-here-i-don-t-think-that-he-had-a-master-plan/) [Corey Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-feldman/) > [Intellectual adherence is never owed to anything whatsoever, for it is never in any degree a voluntary thing. Attention alone is voluntary. It alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/intellectual-adherence-is-never-owed-to-anything-whatsoever-for-it-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [We thought that, perhaps," said I, hesitating, "it is right to begin with the obligations of home, sir; and that, perhaps, while those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/we-thought-that-perhaps-said-i-hesitating-it-is-right-to-begin-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I'm thankful for the ability to share my faith in a lot of different places. It's something that I take as a responsibility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/i-m-thankful-for-the-ability-to-share-my-faith-in-a-lot-of-different/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) > [The writer’s job is to write with rigor, with commitment, to defend what they believe with all the talent they have. I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-writer-s-job-is-to-write-with-rigor-with-commitment-to-defend/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [ The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today and they, or rather we \[journalists\], too often… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/the-reality-is-that-the-media-are-probably-the-most-powerful-of-all/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) > [There are some duties we owe even to those who have wronged us. There is, after all, a limit to retribution and punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/there-are-some-duties-we-owe-even-to-those-who-have-wronged-us-there/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [What must be addressed in the most immediate sense is the threat that the emerging police state in the United States poses not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/what-must-be-addressed-in-the-most-immediate-sense-is-the-threat-that/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked-about-freedom-his-attitude/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Be sure to do your duty today, and let God Take care of the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-sure-to-do-your-duty-today-and-let-god-take-care-of-the-outcome/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Binding quotes > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“My heart almost vaulted out of my chest. I was snuggled against Ryan’s shoulder. We were burrowed under the cloak and sleeping bag, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-dogra/my-heart-almost-vaulted-out-of-my-chest-i-was-snuggled-against-ryan-s/) [Sam Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-dogra/) > [One thing that Chairman Mao did was to end the appalling foot binding of women. That alone justifies the Mao Tse-tung era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/one-thing-that-chairman-mao-did-was-to-end-the-appalling-foot-binding/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [The ultimate binding element in the medieval order was subordination to the divine will and its earthly representatives, notably the pope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-babbitt/the-ultimate-binding-element-in-the-medieval-order-was-subordination/) [Irving Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-babbitt/) > [Love is the binding force on every level of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/love-is-the-binding-force-on-every-level-of-existence/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [When I stand in a library where is all the recorded wit of the world, but none of the recording, a mere accumulated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-i-stand-in-a-library-where-is-all-the-recorded-wit-of-the-world/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is one single thread binding my way together...the way of the Master consists in doing one's best...that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-one-single-thread-binding-my-way-together-the-way-of-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The future belongs to social media. It is egalitarian and inclusive. Social media is not about any country, any language, any colour, any community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-future-belongs-to-social-media-it-is-egalitarian-and-inclusive/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [To regard human beings as tools - as instruments - for the use of other human beings is not only unscientific but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/to-regard-human-beings-as-tools-as-instruments-for-the-use-of-other/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [To a man who is uncorrupt and properly constituted, woman always remains something of a mystery and a romance. He never interprets her quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-parton/to-a-man-who-is-uncorrupt-and-properly-constituted-woman-always/) [James Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-parton/) > [And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds and binding with briars my joys and desires. (from 'The Garden of Love')](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/and-priests-in-black-gowns-were-walking-their-rounds-and-binding-with/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [There comes not seldom a crisis in the life of men, of nations, and of worlds, when the old forms seem ready to decay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/there-comes-not-seldom-a-crisis-in-the-life-of-men-of-nations-and-of/) [Benjamin N. Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-n-cardozo/) > [Christ's commandment to hear the Church . . . is binding on all men, in every period, and every country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/christ-s-commandment-to-hear-the-church-is-binding-on-all-men-in/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [Pure love is the best medicine for the modern world. This is what is lacking in all societies. The root cause of all problems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/pure-love-is-the-best-medicine-for-the-modern-world-this-is-what-is/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Commitment . . . is a binding, but happy, response to duty. It is at once peaceful yet compelling, for it obligates one to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-paramore/commitment-is-a-binding-but-happy-response-to-duty-it-is-at-once/) [James M. Paramore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-paramore/) [Browse all 207 Binding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/binding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No obligation to do the impossible is binding.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-binding/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Binding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-binding/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_binding_no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-bi_2207109.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No obligation to do the impossible is binding.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No obligation to do the impossible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-binding/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-obligation-to-do-the-impossible-is-binding/#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 } } ] } ```