--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No phase of life, whether public or…" description: "\"No phase of life, whether public or private, can be free from duty.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg" --- # No phase of life, whether public or private, can be free… ![“No phase of life, whether public or private, can be free from duty.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg) > “No phase of life, whether public or private, can be free from duty.” [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. Every stage of life carries responsibilities, both public and private. **In simple terms:** Life phases have duties. Key Takeaway Honor your obligations. Themes responsibility ethics life stages Mood serious reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - career - personal growth Key Concepts civic duty family obligations Questions to Reflect On - Which duties are hardest to fulfill? - How to prioritize conflicting duties? A Different Perspective Neglecting duties leads to disorder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Phases of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phases-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Americans live under the delusion that enterprise here is both private and free. It may be nominally private, but it's anything but free. 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Jack Balousek There is no more noble occupation in the world than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-loy-mcginnis/learn-earn-return-these-are-the-3-phases-of-life-jack-balousek-there/) [Alan Loy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-loy-mcginnis/) > [The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes is an excellent book for student athletes to understand what it takes to be successful. It covers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ford/the-7-practices-of-exceptional-student-athletes-is-an-excellent-book/) Danny Ford > [I didn't start smoking weed till my junior year. I had a boyfriend who smoked a lot, and I was like, "Oh, I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-glazer/i-didn-t-start-smoking-weed-till-my-junior-year-i-had-a-boyfriend-who/) [Ilana Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-glazer/) > [Retirement can and will be a glorious time in your life. You'll love the freedom and ability to try new things. It's a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/retirement-can-and-will-be-a-glorious-time-in-your-life-you-ll-love/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Desire is the motivating force behind all progress and advancement in science, art, industry and in all phases of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/desire-is-the-motivating-force-behind-all-progress-and-advancement-in/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [I have seen many phases of life; I have moved in imperial circles, I have been a Minister of State; but if I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-dumas/i-have-seen-many-phases-of-life-i-have-moved-in-imperial-circles-i/) [Jean-Baptiste Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-dumas/) > [It is interesting to note that in every phase of life feminine masochism finds some form of expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-deutsch/it-is-interesting-to-note-that-in-every-phase-of-life-feminine/) [Helene Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-deutsch/) > [I loved every minute of my time at Microsoft, but I had always envisioned having another phase of life just because I thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-loved-every-minute-of-my-time-at-microsoft-but-i-had-always/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [I can't wait to be a mom and a wife, and explore that phase of life. 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Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [I hope that when the time comes, I am treated with compassion and allowed to pass on to the next phase of life's journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-hope-that-when-the-time-comes-i-am-treated-with-compassion-and/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [If it is written and read with serious attention, a novel, like a myth or any great work of art, can become an initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-it-is-written-and-read-with-serious-attention-a-novel-like-a-myth/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) ## 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 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 phase of life, whether public or private, can be free from duty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-private-can-be-free-from-duty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-private-can-be-free-from-duty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_duty_no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-priva_2608591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No phase of life, whether public or private, can be free from duty.” — 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 phase of life, whether public...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-private-can-be-free-from-duty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/no-phase-of-life-whether-public-or-private-can-be-free-from-duty/#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 } } ] } ```