--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have duties to others, and duties to…" description: "\"We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.\" — Theodore Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg" --- # We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we… ![“We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg) > “We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must honor responsibilities to both others and ourselves, avoiding neglect of either. **In simple terms:** Balance duties. Key Takeaway Honor all obligations. Themes responsibility ethics self‑care Mood determined thoughtful Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - self‑development - family care Key Concepts civic duty personal growth leadership Questions to Reflect On - What duty are you neglecting? - How can you balance both? A Different Perspective Self‑care may be overlooked when focusing on others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Inaugural address](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inaugural-address/) ## Related quotes > [Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/much-has-been-given-us-and-much-will-rightfully-be-expected-from-us/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [You know I have duties──we both have duties──before which feeling must be sacrificed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/you-know-i-have-duties-we-both-have-duties-before-which-feeling-must/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/much-has-been-given-us-and-much-will-rightfully-be-expected-from-us-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let us strive on to finish the work we are in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-strive-on-to-finish-the-work-we-are-in/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In the field of world policy; I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-the-field-of-world-policy-i-would-dedicate-this-nation-to-the/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-still-believe-that-our-obligations-as-americans-are-not-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether government works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-question-we-ask-today-is-not-whether-our-government-is-too-big-or/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-are-not-enemies-but-friends-we-must-not-be-enemies-though-passion/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/so-let-us-begin-anew-remembering-on-both-sides-that-civility-is-not-a/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-still-believe-that-our-obligations-as-americans-are-not/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I said in my inaugural address that I am not the Council's secretary, nor am I the Parliament's lackey. That can sometimes lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-said-in-my-inaugural-address-that-i-am-not-the-council-s-secretary/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-judgments-of-the-lord-are-true-and-righteous-altogether/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The famous passage from her book is often erroneously attributed to the inaugural address of Nelson Mandela. About the misattribution Williamson said, "Several years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-famous-passage-from-her-book-is-often-erroneously-attributed-to/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Duties quotes > [“You must not allow the hurt of the past to haunt or hinder you from fulfilling and performing your duties as one who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-not-allow-the-hurt-of-the-past-to-haunt-or-hinder-you-from/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Medical physicists work in cooperation with doctors. A few medical physicists devote their time to research and teaching. A few get involved with administrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/medical-physicists-work-in-cooperation-with-doctors-a-few-medical/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [“I truly wanted to live a life in which I could make my own choices, independent of the 'duties' of my birth and position.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-truly-wanted-to-live-a-life-in-which-i-could-make-my-own-choices/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I guess everybody has to pay duties at the Masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/i-guess-everybody-has-to-pay-duties-at-the-masters/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [Some duties exist simply because we are part of a larger family or community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/some-duties-exist-simply-because-we-are-part-of-a-larger-family-or/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [Duties are ours; events are God's. This removes an infinite burden from the shoulders of a miserable, tempted, dying creature. On this consideration only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/duties-are-ours-events-are-god-s-this-removes-an-infinite-burden-from/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Irrespective of the tasks given to me, I have done my best to discharge my duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/irrespective-of-the-tasks-given-to-me-i-have-done-my-best-to/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [My husband is in charge of all phone, email and texting duties at home. He even has to turn on the TV and air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becki-newton/my-husband-is-in-charge-of-all-phone-email-and-texting-duties-at-home/) [Becki Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becki-newton/) > [I speak for all Malaysians in expressing my admiration for the Queen and the grace, poise and selflessness with which she has carried out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-speak-for-all-malaysians-in-expressing-my-admiration-for-the-queen/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark, fed with scraps. Do you think I want to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-spent-several-years-in-a-north-vietnamese-prison-camp-in-the-dark/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“And he is not at an age right for renunciation; he has not even entered the stage of the householder, as befits a well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-abha-a/and-he-is-not-at-an-age-right-for-renunciation-he-has-not-even/) Bāṇabhaṭṭa > [Where there are no rights, there are no duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/where-there-are-no-rights-there-are-no-duties/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The rights which a man arrogates to himself are relative to the duties which he sets himself, and to the tasks which he feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-rights-which-a-man-arrogates-to-himself-are-relative-to-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 140 Duties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duties" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/theodore-roosevelt-218_duties_we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-o_348465.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.” — Theodore Roosevelt", "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": "Theodore Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have duties to others, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/#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 } } ] } ```