--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not calculate what I have done, for I…" description: "\"Do not calculate what I have done, for I shall accept no recompense. Calculate the public advantage, the welfare and liberty of my country, and believe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/marquis-de-lafayette-9735_ambition_do-not-calculate-what-i-have-done-for-i_2186589.jpg" --- # Do not calculate what I have done, for I shall accept no… ![“Do not calculate what I have done, for I shall accept no recompense. Calculate the public advantage, the welfare and liberty of my country, and believe that I shall refuse no burden, no danger, provided that, at the hour of tranquillity, I may return to private life, for there now remains but one…” quote by Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/marquis-de-lafayette-9735_ambition_do-not-calculate-what-i-have-done-for-i_2186589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/marquis-de-lafayette-9735_ambition_do-not-calculate-what-i-have-done-for-i_2186589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/marquis-de-lafayette-9735_ambition_do-not-calculate-what-i-have-done-for-i_2186589.jpg) > “Do not calculate what I have done, for I shall accept no recompense. Calculate the public advantage, the welfare and liberty of my country, and believe that I shall refuse no burden, no danger, provided that, at the hour of tranquillity, I may return to private life, for there now remains but one step for my ambition - that of arriving at zero.” [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges prioritizing public good over personal gain, accepting duty without seeking reward, and seeking a simple life after service. **In simple terms:** Serve the public, avoid personal profit, and live modestly after duty. Key Takeaway Focus on civic duty, not personal reward. Themes civic duty humility public service Mood reflective determined Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - public office - military service - post‑career retirement Key Concepts altruism political philosophy self‑sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal needs with public responsibilities? - What sacrifices are justified for the common good? A Different Perspective May neglect personal well‑being or lead to burnout if duty is over‑emphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Private life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-life/) ## Related quotes > [And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-it-shall-be-if-they-refuse-to-take-the-cup-at-thine-hand-to-drink/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Rumpole, you must move with the times." "If I don't like the way the times are moving, I shall refuse to accompany them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/rumpole-you-must-move-with-the-times-if-i-don-t-like-the-way-the/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“Don't you dare cry. If you do, then I shall, and I refuse to allow it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-ryan/don-t-you-dare-cry-if-you-do-then-i-shall-and-i-refuse-to-allow-it/) [Patricia Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-ryan/) > [We shall not refuse tobacco the credit of being sometimes medical, when used temperately, though an acknowledged poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-torrey/we-shall-not-refuse-tobacco-the-credit-of-being-sometimes-medical/) Jesse Torrey > [“You tell me that yes, I can do it. I know. And I may do it, if I so choose. You tell me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-tell-me-that-yes-i-can-do-it-i-know-and-i-may-do-it-if-i-so/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I think it was really important for me before I 'debuted myself' in front of the world to have a private life with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-think-it-was-really-important-for-me-before-i-debuted-myself-in/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [I think a lot of times people who jump from one movie to another don't enjoy their private life. It's a great way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-think-a-lot-of-times-people-who-jump-from-one-movie-to-another-don/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [I don't feel comfortable talking about my private life, and some people in my private life don't feel comfortable about me talking about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-mckee/i-don-t-feel-comfortable-talking-about-my-private-life-and-some/) [Gina McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-mckee/) > [I never thought my private life would be newsworthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-never-thought-my-private-life-would-be-newsworthy/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I'm a successful professional athlete, and whatever I'm going through in my private life would never impact my performance on court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enes-kanter/i-m-a-successful-professional-athlete-and-whatever-i-m-going-through/) [Enes Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enes-kanter/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I wish we could go back to the time when the private lives of our public figures were relevant only if they directly affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-wish-we-could-go-back-to-the-time-when-the-private-lives-of-our/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Things are coming to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/things-are-coming-to-a-pretty-pass-when-religion-is-allowed-to-invade/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) ## More by Marquis de Lafayette > [May the friends of America rejoice! May her enemies be humbled and her censors silenced at the news of her noble exertions in continuance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/may-the-friends-of-america-rejoice-may-her-enemies-be-humbled-and-her/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [The Huron and Iroquois forests are peopled by my friends; with me, the despots of Europe and their courts are the savages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/the-huron-and-iroquois-forests-are-peopled-by-my-friends-with-me-the/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [The Emperor Napoleon, ascending gradually from his post of national magistrate to seat himself upon a throne without limits, seems to have wished to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/the-emperor-napoleon-ascending-gradually-from-his-post-of-national/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [If the liberties of the American people are ever destroyed, they will fall by the hands of the clergy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/if-the-liberties-of-the-american-people-are-ever-destroyed-they-will/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [ If you were lost for America, there is nobody who could keep the army and the revolution \[going\] for six months. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/if-you-were-lost-for-america-there-is-nobody-who-could-keep-the-army/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [I have found a unique opportunity to distinguish myself and to learn my trade. I am a general officer in the army of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/i-have-found-a-unique-opportunity-to-distinguish-myself-and-to-learn/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [Let not ambition take possession of you; love the friends of the people, but reserve blind submission for the law and enthusiasm for liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/let-not-ambition-take-possession-of-you-love-the-friends-of-the/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [In America there are none poor, and none even that can be called peasants. Each citizen has some property, and all citizens have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/in-america-there-are-none-poor-and-none-even-that-can-be-called/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [May the States be so bound to each other as forever to defy European politics. Upon that union, their consequence, their happiness, will depend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/may-the-states-be-so-bound-to-each-other-as-forever-to-defy-european/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [In my idea General Washington is the greatest man; for I look upon him as the most virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/in-my-idea-general-washington-is-the-greatest-man-for-i-look-upon-him/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [The king knows with what ardor and perseverance I have at all times been devoted to the cause of liberty and to the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/the-king-knows-with-what-ardor-and-perseverance-i-have-at-all-times/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [One time, I was given an essay topic: to describe a perfect horse, whom the mere sight of the rider's whip would make obedient.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/one-time-i-was-given-an-essay-topic-to-describe-a-perfect-horse-whom/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [From an early period, I had the happiness to rank among the foremost in the American Revolution. In the affection and confidence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/from-an-early-period-i-had-the-happiness-to-rank-among-the-foremost/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [All that you are, all that I owe to you, justifies my love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/all-that-you-are-all-that-i-owe-to-you-justifies-my-love/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [It was by a Maryland colonel in the year 1777 that the British received, in the gallant defense of an important fort, one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/it-was-by-a-maryland-colonel-in-the-year-1777-that-the-british/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) [Explore all 70 Marquis de Lafayette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [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/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not calculate what I have done, for I shall accept no recompense. 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