---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better than honor and glory, and…"
description: "\"Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.\" — Richard Watson Gilder"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg"
---

#  Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was…

![“Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.” quote by Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg)

> “Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.”

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Duty and love for fellow humans surpass honor, glory, and historical fame.

**In simple terms:** Duty and love outweigh honor and fame.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize service over personal glory.

Themes

duty service humility

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- public service
- community work
- leadership

Key Concepts

ethics humanism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you honor duty daily?
- What sacrifices are worth making?

A Different Perspective

Societal recognition may still dominate motivations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veteran/) [Veterans day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veterans-day/)

## Related quotes

> [“History is not made every day because it takes extraordinary people to create history, who have an iron will and not afraid of taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/history-is-not-made-every-day-because-it-takes-extraordinary-people/)

[John Taskinsoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/)

> [“...but I don't need to go into a church and kiss a silver platter and reach into my pockets to fatten a pack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/but-i-don-t-need-to-go-into-a-church-and-kiss-a-silver-platter-and/)

[Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/)

> [I'm no parasite. I'm a poet who will bring honor and glory to his country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/i-m-no-parasite-i-m-a-poet-who-will-bring-honor-and-glory-to-his/)

[Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/)

> [All honor to him who shall win the prize. The world has cried for a thousand years. But to him who tries and fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-miller/all-honor-to-him-who-shall-win-the-prize-the-world-has-cried-for-a/)

[Joaquin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-miller/)

> [I know that God gave me the blessing to use, to bring honor and glory to Him, and to use to impact the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-haney/i-know-that-god-gave-me-the-blessing-to-use-to-bring-honor-and-glory/)

[Lee Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-haney/)

> [If success attends my steps, honor and glory await my name-if defeat, still shall it be said we died like brave men, and conferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/if-success-attends-my-steps-honor-and-glory-await-my-name-if-defeat/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done--the honor of the integrity of principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/there-is-a-true-glory-and-a-true-honor-the-glory-of-duty-done-the/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [And so I look at it as a relationship that I have with him that I want to give him the honor and glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/and-so-i-look-at-it-as-a-relationship-that-i-have-with-him-that-i/)

[Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/)

> [I exist not to be loved and admired, but to love and act. It is not the duty of those around me to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korczak/i-exist-not-to-be-loved-and-admired-but-to-love-and-act-it-is-not-the/)

[Janusz Korczak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korczak/)

> [Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/remember-that-it-is-nothing-to-do-your-duty-that-is-demanded-of-you/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [Love can flourish only as long as it is free and spontaneous; it tends to be killed by the thought of duty. To say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/love-can-flourish-only-as-long-as-it-is-free-and-spontaneous-it-tends/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [The fist duty to love is to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheya/the-fist-duty-to-love-is-to-listen/)

[SHEYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheya/)

> [Love can only flourish as long as it is free and spontaneous; it tends to be killed by the thought that it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/love-can-only-flourish-as-long-as-it-is-free-and-spontaneous-it-tends/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [“The most difficult challenge an honest man will ever face is having to choose between duty and love. One creates a man of honorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-goodrich/the-most-difficult-challenge-an-honest-man-will-ever-face-is-having/)

[Richelle Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-goodrich/)

> [“And then the second thing you have to do is go and see your son. That is a duty of love, Andrew. It's as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-then-the-second-thing-you-have-to-do-is-go-and-see-your-son-that/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

## More by Richard Watson Gilder

> [What babe new born is this that in a manger cries? Near on her lowly bed his happy mother lies. Oh, see the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/what-babe-new-born-is-this-that-in-a-manger-cries-near-on-her-lowly/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [Fra Lippo, we have learned from thee A lesson of humanity: To every mother's heart forlorn, In every house the Christ is born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/fra-lippo-we-have-learned-from-thee-a-lesson-of-humanity-to-every/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [I am the laughter of the new-born child On whose soft-breathing sleep an angel smiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/i-am-the-laughter-of-the-new-born-child-on-whose-soft-breathing-sleep/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [In Heaven's happy bowers There blossom two flowers, One with fiery glow And one as white as snow; While lo! before them stands, With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/in-heaven-s-happy-bowers-there-blossom-two-flowers-one-with-fiery/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [Since ancient Time began, Ever on some great soul God laid an infinite burden-- The weight of all this world, the hopes of man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/since-ancient-time-began-ever-on-some-great-soul-god-laid-an-infinite/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [Ye living soldiers of the mighty war, Once more from roaring cannon and the drums And bugles blown at morn, the summons comes; Forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/ye-living-soldiers-of-the-mighty-war-once-more-from-roaring-cannon/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [Against the darkness outer God's light his likeness takes, And he from the mighty doubter The great believer makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/against-the-darkness-outer-god-s-light-his-likeness-takes-and-he-from/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [Oh, father's gone to market-town, he was up before the day, And Jamie's after robins, and the man is making hay, And whistling down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/oh-father-s-gone-to-market-town-he-was-up-before-the-day-and-jamie-s/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [In the embers shining bright A garden grows for thy delight, With roses yellow, red, and white. But, O my child, beware, beware! Touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/in-the-embers-shining-bright-a-garden-grows-for-thy-delight-with/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [A man not perfect, but of heart so high, of such heroic rage, That even his hopes became a part of earth's eternal heritage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/a-man-not-perfect-but-of-heart-so-high-of-such-heroic-rage-that-even/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [My name may have buoyancy enough to float upon the sea of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/my-name-may-have-buoyancy-enough-to-float-upon-the-sea-of-time/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [What if thou be saint or sinner, Crooked gray-beard, straight beginner,-- Empty paunch, or jolly dinner, When Death thee shall call. All like are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/what-if-thou-be-saint-or-sinner-crooked-gray-beard-straight-beginner/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [I am the spirit of the morning sea, I am the awakening and the glad surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/i-am-the-spirit-of-the-morning-sea-i-am-the-awakening-and-the-glad/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [Give me a theme," the little poet cried, "And I will do my part," "'Tis not a theme you need," the world replied; "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/give-me-a-theme-the-little-poet-cried-and-i-will-do-my-part-tis-not-a/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

> [We lean on Faith; and some less wise have cried, "Behold the butterfly, the see that's cast!" Vain hopes that fall like flowers before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/we-lean-on-faith-and-some-less-wise-have-cried-behold-the-butterfly/)

[Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

[Explore all 18 Richard Watson Gilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/)

## More Done quotes

> [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/)

[Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/)

> [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/)

[Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/)

[Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/)

> [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/)

[Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/)

Browse all 25,653 Done quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Watson Gilder"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history-s-iron-pen-was-the-thought-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Done"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history-s-iron-pen-was-the-thought-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/richard-watson-gilder-29622_done_better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history_3026474.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his…” — Richard Watson Gilder",
                "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": "Richard Watson Gilder",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Better than honor and glory, and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history-s-iron-pen-was-the-thought-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/better-than-honor-and-glory-and-history-s-iron-pen-was-the-thought-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
