--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is it that when people have no…" description: "\"Why is it that when people have no capacity for private usefulness they should be so anxious to serve the public?\" — Sara Jeannette Duncan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg" --- # Why is it that when people have no capacity for private… ![“Why is it that when people have no capacity for private usefulness they should be so anxious to serve the public?” quote by Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg) > “Why is it that when people have no capacity for private usefulness they should be so anxious to serve the public?” [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who lack personal usefulness often overcompensate by seeking public roles, revealing a paradox of self‑worth. **In simple terms:** Lack of personal purpose drives public service. Key Takeaway Find personal purpose first. Themes self‑worth public service paradox Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical questioning When to use this quote - volunteering - leadership - career counseling Key Concepts identity social validation altruism Questions to Reflect On - Why do you seek public roles? - What personal purpose drives you? A Different Perspective Public service can be genuine, not just compensatory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) ## Related quotes > [Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/great-women-and-men-are-always-more-anxious-to-serve-than-to-have/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Most public officials work hard to serve the public good and abide by Oregon's ethics laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brown/most-public-officials-work-hard-to-serve-the-public-good-and-abide-by/) [Kate Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brown/) > [If Trump wants to serve the public, he'll put away his hatchet and sit down with Democrats to fix the ACA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/if-trump-wants-to-serve-the-public-he-ll-put-away-his-hatchet-and-sit/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [You don't need to wear a politician's garb to serve public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sreenivasan/you-don-t-need-to-wear-a-politician-s-garb-to-serve-public/) [Sreenivasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sreenivasan/) > [I've stepped down from jobs that paid me well more than what I was working anywhere else. And each time, it was to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-esper/i-ve-stepped-down-from-jobs-that-paid-me-well-more-than-what-i-was/) [Mark Esper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-esper/) > [Public schooling does not serve a public; it creates a pubic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/public-schooling-does-not-serve-a-public-it-creates-a-pubic/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [I'm a politician who has to for a time serve in public life, and I get death threats. And it is what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/i-m-a-politician-who-has-to-for-a-time-serve-in-public-life-and-i-get/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [You can't serve the public good without the truth as a bottom line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/you-can-t-serve-the-public-good-without-the-truth-as-a-bottom-line/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) > [To serve the public interest is not the same as being a servant of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-hook/to-serve-the-public-interest-is-not-the-same-as-being-a-servant-of/) [Sidney Hook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-hook/) > [The public owns the airwaves; Congress gave them to broadcasters for free, with the understanding that they would serve the public interest while trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hundt/the-public-owns-the-airwaves-congress-gave-them-to-broadcasters-for/) [Reed Hundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hundt/) > [I don't get paid to serve the president. I get paid to serve the public and what I think is in the interest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-don-t-get-paid-to-serve-the-president-i-get-paid-to-serve-the/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [What most of all enables a man to serve the public is not wealth, but content and independence; which, requiring no superfluity at home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/what-most-of-all-enables-a-man-to-serve-the-public-is-not-wealth-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [People who intend only to serve public interest are led by invisible hand to private interest which was no part of their intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/people-who-intend-only-to-serve-public-interest-are-led-by-invisible/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [However long I serve in public life, I'll stand on that basic liberty of the right to keep and bear arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/however-long-i-serve-in-public-life-i-ll-stand-on-that-basic-liberty/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [When people run a business and open their door to the public, they must serve the public. That doesn't mean they can't say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/when-people-run-a-business-and-open-their-door-to-the-public-they/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) ## More by Sara Jeannette Duncan > [When God gave men tongues, he never dreamed that they would want to talk about the Himalayas; there are consequently no words in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/when-god-gave-men-tongues-he-never-dreamed-that-they-would-want-to/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [Ah, the camel of Cairo! ... He went quietly and comfortably through the narrowest lanes and the densest crowds by the mere force of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/ah-the-camel-of-cairo-he-went-quietly-and-comfortably-through-the/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [Human beings aren't orchids; we must draw something from the soil we grow in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/human-beings-aren-t-orchids-we-must-draw-something-from-the-soil-we/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [Clothes and courage have so much to do with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/clothes-and-courage-have-so-much-to-do-with-each-other/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [We often say that we fear no invasion from the south, but the armies of the south have already crossed the border - American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/we-often-say-that-we-fear-no-invasion-from-the-south-but-the-armies/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [If you have anything to tell me of importance, for God's sake begin at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/if-you-have-anything-to-tell-me-of-importance-for-god-s-sake-begin-at/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [Englishmen have a genius for looking uncomfortable. Their feelings are terribly mixed up with their personal appearance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/englishmen-have-a-genius-for-looking-uncomfortable-their-feelings-are/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [I know Americans talk a great deal about the price of things - more, I consider, than is entertaining, sometimes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/i-know-americans-talk-a-great-deal-about-the-price-of-things-more-i/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [It is also possible, I believe, if one lives in India long enough, to come across a globe-trotter who is modest and teachable, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/it-is-also-possible-i-believe-if-one-lives-in-india-long-enough-to/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) [Explore all 10 Sara Jeannette Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) ## More Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/according-to-shakyamuni-buddha-it-s-normal-for-human-beings-to-be/) [Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [There were times when depression, anxiety, whatever, would keep me from writing. I still get depressed and anxious, but I just don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-st-john/there-were-times-when-depression-anxiety-whatever-would-keep-me-from/) [David St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-st-john/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I'm a very anxious, nervy kind of loser in many ways, and I get very stressed and a little tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-weeks/i-m-a-very-anxious-nervy-kind-of-loser-in-many-ways-and-i-get-very/) [Ed Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-weeks/) > [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-anxious-to-be-the-loudest-voice-or-the-most-popular-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You simply can't be tentative in a startup. You have to go for it at every chance you get. And if the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/you-simply-can-t-be-tentative-in-a-startup-you-have-to-go-for-it-at/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [I don't understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-don-t-understand-why-gay-people-are-so-anxious-to-get-married/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) [Browse all 1,159 Anxious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why is it that when people have no capacity for private usefulness they should be so anxious to serve the public?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sara Jeannette Duncan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capacity-for-private-usefulness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capacity-for-private-usefulness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/sara-jeannette-duncan-41268_anxious_why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capac_1971674.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why is it that when people have no capacity for private usefulness they should be so anxious to serve the…” — Sara Jeannette Duncan", "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": "Sara Jeannette Duncan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why is it that when people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capacity-for-private-usefulness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/why-is-it-that-when-people-have-no-capacity-for-private-usefulness/#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 } } ] } ```