--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is of little value unless it be…" description: "\"Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty.\" — Samuel Smiles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png" --- # Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty. ![“Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty.” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png) > “Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Duty gives life meaning; without it, existence feels empty. **In simple terms:** Duty gives purpose. Key Takeaway Find purpose through responsibility. Themes purpose duty meaning value self-improvement Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career - volunteering - family responsibilities - public service Key Concepts existentialism moral philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What duties align with your passions? - Can duty coexist with leisure? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on duty may neglect personal joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consecrated Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consecrated-duty-3498294/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-little-422350/) [Little Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-value-396980/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Unless Consecrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-consecrated-3498295/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Most of the photographs people take with their cameraphones are of little value in terms of documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/most-of-the-photographs-people-take-with-their-cameraphones-are-of/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [My opposition to Interviews lies in the fact that offhand answers have little value or grace of expression, and that such oral give and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/my-opposition-to-interviews-lies-in-the-fact-that-offhand-answers/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [To have so little, and it of so little value, was to be quaintly free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/to-have-so-little-and-it-of-so-little-value-was-to-be-quaintly-free/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Indeed it is very hard, when we have let the King's subjects have so much of our lands for so little value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brant/indeed-it-is-very-hard-when-we-have-let-the-king-s-subjects-have-so/) [Joseph Brant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brant/) > [As a rule, anything in a binder has very little value, except as building material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/as-a-rule-anything-in-a-binder-has-very-little-value-except-as/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Still, without faithfulness of heart there is little value in all the rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-julie-dodson/still-without-faithfulness-of-heart-there-is-little-value-in-all-the/) [DeAnna Julie Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-julie-dodson/) > [Woman's advice has little value, but he who won't take it is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/woman-s-advice-has-little-value-but-he-who-won-t-take-it-is-a-fool/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Little value comes out of the belief that people will respond progressively better by treating them progressively worse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-harvey/little-value-comes-out-of-the-belief-that-people-will-respond/) [Eric Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-harvey/) > [Capitalism is a wonderful economic engine, but it assigns little value to long-term projects or societal problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-m-whitesides/capitalism-is-a-wonderful-economic-engine-but-it-assigns-little-value/) [George M. Whitesides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-m-whitesides/) > [“Underachievement is widely accepted in the popular culture, which puts little value on persistence in the face of setbacks or on the unique pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-christian/underachievement-is-widely-accepted-in-the-popular-culture-which-puts/) [Kenneth W. Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-christian/) > [I grew up thinking I had very little value. It's not something I felt I could share with my mom so it was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/i-grew-up-thinking-i-had-very-little-value-it-s-not-something-i-felt/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [In our hurried world too little value is attached to the part of the connoisseur and dilettante.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/in-our-hurried-world-too-little-value-is-attached-to-the-part-of-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [You can find examples of how little we value ourselves everywhere you look. The signs on the front of the convenience stores where Stephen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/you-can-find-examples-of-how-little-we-value-ourselves-everywhere-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [A knowledge of truth is of little value unless lived in full measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/a-knowledge-of-truth-is-of-little-value-unless-lived-in-full-measure/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [People are governed by the head; a kind heart is of little value in chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/people-are-governed-by-the-head-a-kind-heart-is-of-little-value-in/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/this-extraordinary-metal-the-soul-of-every-manufacture-and-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/man-cannot-aspire-if-he-looked-down-if-he-rise-he-must-look-up/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman-and-has-been-recognized-as-a/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## 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": "Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Smiles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-consecrated-by-duty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-consecrated-by-duty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/samuel-smiles-2037_duty_life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-con_386881.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Life is of little value unless it be consecrated by duty.” — Samuel Smiles", "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": "Samuel Smiles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Life is of little value unless...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-consecrated-by-duty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/life-is-of-little-value-unless-it-be-consecrated-by-duty/#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 } } ] } ```