--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was by birth a gentleman, living…" description: "\"I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation - ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/oliver-cromwell-10893_birth_i-was-by-birth-a-gentleman-living-neithe_554790.jpg" --- # I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any… ![“I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation - to serve in parliaments, - and ( because I would not be over tedious ) I did endeavour to discharge the duty of an honest man in those services, to…” quote by Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/oliver-cromwell-10893_birth_i-was-by-birth-a-gentleman-living-neithe_554790.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/oliver-cromwell-10893_birth_i-was-by-birth-a-gentleman-living-neithe_554790.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/oliver-cromwell-10893_birth_i-was-by-birth-a-gentleman-living-neithe_554790.jpg) > “I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation - to serve in parliaments, - and ( because I would not be over tedious ) I did endeavour to discharge the duty of an honest man in those services, to God, and his people's interest, and of the commonwealth; having, when time was, a competent acceptation in the hearts of men, and some evidence thereof.” [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes his modest origins, public service, and commitment to honesty and the common good despite limited fame. **In simple terms:** Modest background, public duty, honesty. Key Takeaway Serve honestly regardless of status. Themes public service honesty humility politics reputation Mood reflective determined Type historical political When to use this quote - parliamentary work - local governance - community leadership Key Concepts Civic duty integrity social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal humility with public responsibility? - What does honest service mean today? A Different Perspective Limited influence can still affect many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment/) [Endeavour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavour/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Obscurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscurity/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Service to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-to-god/) ## Related quotes > [I was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any considerable height nor yet in obscurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-was-by-birth-a-gentleman-living-neither-in-any-considerable-height-2/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [When you talk to police communications staff and think about their job from an insider's point of view, you can see they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/when-you-talk-to-police-communications-staff-and-think-about-their/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I firmly believe that the only reason why I'm on this planet, the only reason why I live, breathe, and exist is, that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-firmly-believe-that-the-only-reason-why-i-m-on-this-planet-the-only/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [In all common ordinary cases, we see intuitively at first view what is out duty, what is the honest part. 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Does he speak erroneously?--stop such a man's mouth with sound words that cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/does-a-man-speak-foolishly-suffer-him-gladly-for-you-are-wise-does-he/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Necessity hath no law. 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