---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee!…"
description: "\"Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer\" — Thomas Carlyle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png"
---

#  Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty…

![“Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png)

> “Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer”

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Do your nearest duty first; clarity follows.

**In simple terms:** Do the closest duty first; clarity comes later.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize immediate responsibilities.

Themes

ethics duty clarity

Mood

reflective practical

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily chores
- work tasks
- family obligations

Key Concepts

philosophy practicality

Questions to Reflect On

- What is your nearest duty now?
- How does it clarify later tasks?

A Different Perspective

Focusing on immediate duty may ignore long‑term goals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

## Related quotes

> [Do the duty which lies nearest to you, the second duty will then become clearer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/do-the-duty-which-lies-nearest-to-you-the-second-duty-will-then/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Let him who gropes painfully in darkness or uncertain light, and prays vehemently that the dawn may ripen into day, lay this precept well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-him-who-gropes-painfully-in-darkness-or-uncertain-light-and-prays/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Do the duty which lies nearest to thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/do-the-duty-which-lies-nearest-to-thee/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [The first duty of a revolutionist is to get away with it. The second duty is to eat breakfast. I ain't going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/the-first-duty-of-a-revolutionist-is-to-get-away-with-it-the-second/)

[Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/)

> [The first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible. What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-first-duty-in-life-is-to-be-as-artificial-as-possible-what-the/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it. The second duty is to eat breakfast. I ain't going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/the-first-duty-of-a-revolutionary-is-to-get-away-with-it-the-second/)

[Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/)

> [“The first duty of love❤️ is to listen, the second duty is too help ✌️”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/the-first-duty-of-love-is-to-listen-the-second-duty-is-too-help/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [The first duty of man is that of subduing fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-first-duty-of-man-is-that-of-subduing-fear/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [Writers and intellectuals have a duty to humanity. It is to insist that the human entity remains the primary asset in overall development; thus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/writers-and-intellectuals-have-a-duty-to-humanity-it-is-to-insist/)

[Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/)

> [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/)

> [Islam expect every Muslim to do this duty, and if we realise our responsibility time will come soon when we shall justify ourselves worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/islam-expect-every-muslim-to-do-this-duty-and-if-we-realise-our/)

[Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/)

> [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/)

[Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/)

> [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/)

## More by Thomas Carlyle

> [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

[Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

## 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": "Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Carlyle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee-thy-second-duty-will-already/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Duty"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee-thy-second-duty-will-already/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/thomas-carlyle-207_duty_do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee_2851917.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer” — Thomas Carlyle",
                "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": "Thomas Carlyle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Do the duty which lieth nearest...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee-thy-second-duty-will-already/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/do-the-duty-which-lieth-nearest-to-thee-thy-second-duty-will-already/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```