--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt…" description: "\"I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt a duty to testify.\" — Ramsey Clark" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/ramsey-clark-20396_duty_i-didn-t-volunteer-they-asked-me-i-felt_2854612.png" --- # I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt a duty to testify. ![“I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt a duty to testify.” quote by Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/ramsey-clark-20396_duty_i-didn-t-volunteer-they-asked-me-i-felt_2854612.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/ramsey-clark-20396_duty_i-didn-t-volunteer-they-asked-me-i-felt_2854612.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/ramsey-clark-20396_duty_i-didn-t-volunteer-they-asked-me-i-felt_2854612.png) > “I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt a duty to testify.” [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He felt compelled by duty to testify when called upon. **In simple terms:** Duty drove him to testify. Key Takeaway Answer when called to duty. Themes civic duty testimony integrity Mood thoughtful determined Type ethical historical When to use this quote - courtroom - political crisis - personal integrity Key Concepts law ethics Questions to Reflect On - What makes you feel obligated to act? - When is it right to refuse? A Different Perspective Testimony may conflict with personal safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Volunteer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volunteer/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't volunteer for the rodeo. I got roped into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-didn-t-volunteer-for-the-rodeo-i-got-roped-into-it/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I got into the right frame of mind that I will serve my country. I didn't volunteer to do it, but they've asked me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mccloughan/i-got-into-the-right-frame-of-mind-that-i-will-serve-my-country-i/) [James McCloughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mccloughan/) > [I was a little-known political consultant until Bill Clinton made me. When he came upon hard times, I felt it my duty - whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/i-was-a-little-known-political-consultant-until-bill-clinton-made-me/) [James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/) > [I took upon myself to enact the part of a poor, unfortunate crazy girl, and felt it my duty not to shirk any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-bly/i-took-upon-myself-to-enact-the-part-of-a-poor-unfortunate-crazy-girl/) [Nellie Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-bly/) > [When I was younger, I felt it was my duty to wake people up. I thought poetry was asleep. I thought rock 'n' roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/when-i-was-younger-i-felt-it-was-my-duty-to-wake-people-up-i-thought/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [And I definitely wanted to be a writer, but I felt a duty now, having used up those educational resources, I felt a duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keneally/and-i-definitely-wanted-to-be-a-writer-but-i-felt-a-duty-now-having/) [Thomas Keneally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keneally/) > [I always felt that it was never the duty of a person to really stand up for their gender or their race or anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/i-always-felt-that-it-was-never-the-duty-of-a-person-to-really-stand/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [Even before the concentration camps, I felt it was my duty to my ancestors to preserve a world that might cease to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-vishniac/even-before-the-concentration-camps-i-felt-it-was-my-duty-to-my/) [Roman Vishniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-vishniac/) > [“My father felt it was his duty to continue to treat animals long after he stopped getting paid. He couldn't stand by and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/my-father-felt-it-was-his-duty-to-continue-to-treat-animals-long/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [I have done what I felt to be my duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/i-have-done-what-i-felt-to-be-my-duty/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [I felt that it was my duty not to senselessly waste my time. And since I didn't want to waste my time, I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-felt-that-it-was-my-duty-not-to-senselessly-waste-my-time-and-since/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [I felt it was my duty to praise all of God's works with fervent enthusiasm. At the same time I killed flies in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-felt-it-was-my-duty-to-praise-all-of-god-s-works-with-fervent/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I have always felt that the first duty of a writer was to ascend - to make flights, carrying others along if you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/i-have-always-felt-that-the-first-duty-of-a-writer-was-to-ascend-to/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [I felt this was my duty ... to draw the thick ancestral darkness out of my loins and transform it ... into light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-felt-this-was-my-duty-to-draw-the-thick-ancestral-darkness-out-of/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I felt I was duty-bound under contract to stick with Cleveland, and I can truthfully say, in all my playing days there and everywhere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/i-felt-i-was-duty-bound-under-contract-to-stick-with-cleveland-and-i/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) ## More by Ramsey Clark > [Most faults are not in our Constitution, but in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/most-faults-are-not-in-our-constitution-but-in-ourselves/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [ How dare Americans allow their government to cause such misery \[in the world\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/how-dare-americans-allow-their-government-to-cause-such-misery-in-the/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Turbulence is life force. It is opportunity. Let's love turbulence and use it for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/turbulence-is-life-force-it-is-opportunity-let-s-love-turbulence-and/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [We're not a democracy. It's a terrible misunderstandin g and a slander to the idea of democracy to call us that. In reality, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/we-re-not-a-democracy-it-s-a-terrible-misunderstandin-g-and-a-slander/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [A great many people in this country are worried about law-and-order. And a great many people are worried about justice. But one thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/a-great-many-people-in-this-country-are-worried-about-law-and-order/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Islam is the only religion that gives dignity to the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/islam-is-the-only-religion-that-gives-dignity-to-the-poor/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Democracy is just a word. You have to give it meaning. The US is not a democracy. Most Americans do not vote. We haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/democracy-is-just-a-word-you-have-to-give-it-meaning-the-us-is-not-a/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [The United States is not nearly so concerned that its acts be kept secret from its intended victims as it is that the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/the-united-states-is-not-nearly-so-concerned-that-its-acts-be-kept/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [The Christian Church overwhelmingly - there are exceptions - who choose to call Muhammad a terrorist. They could call Jesus a terrorist too. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/the-christian-church-overwhelmingly-there-are-exceptions-who-choose/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Both trials are marred with injustice, both are flawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/both-trials-are-marred-with-injustice-both-are-flawed/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Our history shows that the death penalty has been unjustly imposed, innocents have been killed by the state, effective rehabilitation has been impaired, judicial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/our-history-shows-that-the-death-penalty-has-been-unjustly-imposed/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Our first concern is the security of the lawyers because without security you can't possibly have a fair trial, if trial at all, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/our-first-concern-is-the-security-of-the-lawyers-because-without/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [There are few better measures of the concern a society has for its individual members and its own well being than the way it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/there-are-few-better-measures-of-the-concern-a-society-has-for-its/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Our emotions may cry for vengeance in the wake of a horrible crime, but we know that killing the criminal will not undo the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/our-emotions-may-cry-for-vengeance-in-the-wake-of-a-horrible-crime/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [This country of ours has committed the most serious act of aggression in its history by engaging in a war of aggression without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/this-country-of-ours-has-committed-the-most-serious-act-of-aggression/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) [Explore all 31 Ramsey Clark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) ## 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": "I didn't volunteer; they asked me. 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