--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This, I say, is the highest duty and the…" description: "\"“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that”\" — Seneca" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg" --- # This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of… ![“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that” quote by Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg) > ““This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that”” [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom is demonstrated by aligning actions with words, showing integrity and consistency. **In simple terms:** Integrity through congruent speech and deed. Key Takeaway Consistency validates wisdom. Themes Integrity Wisdom Ethics Leadership Authenticity Mood Respectful Serious Inspirational Type Philosophical Moral When to use this quote - Public speaking - Management decisions - Personal relationships - Negotiations - Teaching Key Concepts Moral philosophy Personal conduct Practical Applications - Leadership coaching - Ethics training Questions to Reflect On - How does misalignment affect credibility? - What practices ensure alignment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom - that deed and word should be in accord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that-deed-and-word/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-highest-proof-of-virtue-is-to-possess-boundless-power-without/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The highest proof of civility is that the whole public action of the State is directed on securing the greatest good of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-highest-proof-of-civility-is-that-the-whole-public-action-of-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/government-s-first-duty-and-highest-obligation-is-public-safety/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it sis my duty ... This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-came-to-realize-that-life-lived-to-help-others-is-the-only-one-that/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [The highest proof of the spirit is love. Love the eternal thing which can already on earth possess as it really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-highest-proof-of-the-spirit-is-love-love-the-eternal-thing-which/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Devotion to duty is the highest form of worship of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/devotion-to-duty-is-the-highest-form-of-worship-of-god/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Performing your duty is the highest form of worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/performing-your-duty-is-the-highest-form-of-worship/) Senoraroy > [Respect for one's parents is the highest duty of civil life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/respect-for-one-s-parents-is-the-highest-duty-of-civil-life/) Proverb > [The highest duty of the man is not to his father, but to his wife; and for the sake of that woman he abandons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/the-highest-duty-of-the-man-is-not-to-his-father-but-to-his-wife-and/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [The highest duty is to respect authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-highest-duty-is-to-respect-authority/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ahimsa is the highest duty. Even if we cannot practice it in full, we must try to understand its spirit and refrain as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ahimsa-is-the-highest-duty-even-if-we-cannot-practice-it-in-full-we/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man's highest duty is to protect animals from cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/man-s-highest-duty-is-to-protect-animals-from-cruelty/) [Emile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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When I say "can," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-wise-man-is-self-sufficient-that-he-can-do-without-friends-not/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-should-not-copy-the-bad-simply/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Virtue alone affords everlasting and peace-giving joy; even if some obstacle arise, it is but like an intervening cloud, which floats beneath the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/virtue-alone-affords-everlasting-and-peace-giving-joy-even-if-some/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“I’ve come across people who say that there is a sort of inborn restlessness in the human spirit and an urge to change one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/i-ve-come-across-people-who-say-that-there-is-a-sort-of-inborn/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Economy is too late at the bottom of the purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/economy-is-too-late-at-the-bottom-of-the-purse/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“On Epicurus; He says: "Contended poverty is an honourable estate." Indeed, if it is contented, it is not poverty at all. 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At Apple you can figure out exactly who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-reason-you-have-committees-is-that-you-have-divided/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) [Browse all 11,295 Responsibility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Responsibility" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/seneca-956_responsibility_this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-h_64445.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord…” — Seneca", "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": "Seneca", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This, I say, is the highest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/#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 } } ] } ```