--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Duty, then is the sublimest word in our…" description: "\"Duty, then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.\" — Robert E. Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/robert-e-lee-2368_duty_duty-then-is-the-sublimest-word-in-our-l_2326674.png" --- # Duty, then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your… ![“Duty, then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/robert-e-lee-2368_duty_duty-then-is-the-sublimest-word-in-our-l_2326674.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/robert-e-lee-2368_duty_duty-then-is-the-sublimest-word-in-our-l_2326674.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/609/robert-e-lee-2368_duty_duty-then-is-the-sublimest-word-in-our-l_2326674.png) > “Duty, then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.” [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Duty is the highest moral word; one should fulfill it fully without seeking more or less **In simple terms:** Do your duty completely Key Takeaway Commit fully to duty Themes duty morality commitment Mood solemn determined Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - military service - public office - family responsibilities - community work Key Concepts Ethics virtue ethics service Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance duty with self‑care? - When is it right to question a duty? A Different Perspective Rigid duty can suppress personal well‑being and flexibility ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Sublimest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-sublimest-1139663/) [Duty Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-things-557924/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-duty-557925/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sublimest Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sublimest-word-2645255/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word/) ## Related quotes > [Duty is the sublimest word in our language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee-2/duty-is-the-sublimest-word-in-our-language/) [Robert E Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee-2/) > [Duty is the most sublime word in our language. 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You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee-2/do-your-duty-in-all-things-you-cannot-do-more-you-should-never-wish/) [Robert E Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee-2/) > [“I do my duty: other things trouble me not; for they are either things without life, or things without reason, or things that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-do-my-duty-other-things-trouble-me-not-for-they-are-either-things/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [It's our duty to get them the things they need when they need it. And it's not happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-melancon/it-s-our-duty-to-get-them-the-things-they-need-when-they-need-it-and/) [Charlie Melancon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-melancon/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. 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I was delighted when I learnt the word 'Luddite,' as I thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-guinness/i-m-a-total-technophobe-what-is-wrong-with-paper-and-pen-i-was/) [Jasmine Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-guinness/) > [The word 'comedy' implies slapstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/the-word-comedy-implies-slapstick/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [“Line by Line, Word by Word, Syllable by Syllable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mckever/line-by-line-word-by-word-syllable-by-syllable/) [Carl McKever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-mckever/) > [“A word is not filling in the gaps, but the fertilization of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-word-is-not-filling-in-the-gaps-but-the-fertilization-of-silence/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) ## More by Robert E. Lee > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [...the framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom and forbearance in its formation if it was intended to be broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-framers-of-our-constitution-never-exhausted-so-much-labor-wisdom/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/my-trust-is-in-the-mercy-and-wisdom-of-a-kind-providence-who-ordereth/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [All military history records the triumphs of discipline and courage far more frequently than numbers and resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/all-military-history-records-the-triumphs-of-discipline-and-courage/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-true-man-of-honor-feels-humbled-himself-when-he-cannot-help/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I will attack no matter what and win the war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-will-attack-no-matter-what-and-win-the-war/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A man may manifest and communicate his joy, but he should conceal and smother his grief as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-man-may-manifest-and-communicate-his-joy-but-he-should-conceal-and/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer. And we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-poor-sinners-need-to-come-back-from-our-wanderings-to-seek-pardon/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Life processes take place in an aqueous medium. All organisms are composed mostly of water, whether they dwell in the oceans, lakes, and rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/life-processes-take-place-in-an-aqueous-medium-all-organisms-are/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-and-though-weaker-than-our-opponents-in/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-must-forgive-our-enemies-i-can-truly-say-that-not-a-day-has-passed/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Lee tells his troops. After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/lee-tells-his-troops-after-four-years-of-arduous-service-marked-by/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/obedience-to-lawful-authority-is-the-foundation-of-manly-character/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) [Explore all 170 Robert E. Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## 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. 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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. 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