--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seek for duty, and happiness will follow…" description: "\"Seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine.\" — Tryon Edwards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png" --- # Seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow… ![“Seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine.” quote by Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png) > “Seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine.” [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing duty leads to happiness, as fulfillment follows purposeful action like sunlight follows shadow. **In simple terms:** Doing your duty brings happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on responsibility to find joy. Themes duty happiness purpose Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career - volunteering - personal growth Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does duty shape your happiness? - Can purpose exist without happiness? A Different Perspective Happiness may still require balance with self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-sunshine/) [Life and love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-love/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine/) ## Related quotes > [Seek happiness for its own sake, and you will not find it; seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/seek-happiness-for-its-own-sake-and-you-will-not-find-it-seek-for/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Sometimes, the shadow comes over me and then, inside, we are two, outside, illusion...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/sometimes-the-shadow-comes-over-me-and-then-inside-we-are-two-outside/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [“He's looking into the night, in case a shadow comes to listen and look.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herta-m-ller/he-s-looking-into-the-night-in-case-a-shadow-comes-to-listen-and-look/) [Herta Müller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herta-m-ller/) > [“But it is better to follow even the shadow of the best than to remain content with the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/but-it-is-better-to-follow-even-the-shadow-of-the-best-than-to-remain/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [In this world everything changes except good deeds and bad deeds; these follow you as the shadow follows the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-this-world-everything-changes-except-good-deeds-and-bad-deeds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Follow a shadow, it still flies you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/follow-a-shadow-it-still-flies-you/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-or-act-with-a-pure-mind-and-happiness-will-follow-you-as-your/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Follow a shadow, it still flies you, Seem to fly, it will pursue: So court a mistress, she denies you; Let her alone, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/follow-a-shadow-it-still-flies-you-seem-to-fly-it-will-pursue-so/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [To do God's will as fast as it is made known to us, to inquire hourly -- I had almost said each moment --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/to-do-god-s-will-as-fast-as-it-is-made-known-to-us-to-inquire-hourly/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [“I cannot, however, but think that the world would be better and brighter if our teachers would dwell on the Duty of Happiness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/i-cannot-however-but-think-that-the-world-would-be-better-and/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [ “By his \[God's\] help I will arise and address myself diligently to my appointed duty. If happiness in this world is not for me,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/by-his-god-s-help-i-will-arise-and-address-myself-diligently-to-my/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [When we are not too anxious about happiness and unhappiness, but devote ourselves to the strict and unsparing performance of duty, then happiness comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/when-we-are-not-too-anxious-about-happiness-and-unhappiness-but/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [I cannot but take notice of the wonderful love of God to mankind, who, in order to encourage obedience to His laws, has annexed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-melmoth/i-cannot-but-take-notice-of-the-wonderful-love-of-god-to-mankind-who/) [William Melmoth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-melmoth/) > [The sexes were made for each other, and only in the wise and loving union of the two is the fullness of health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hall/the-sexes-were-made-for-each-other-and-only-in-the-wise-and-loving/) William Hall > [The duty of happiness becomes clearer when we see how it affects others. It is the merry heart that makes the cheerful countenance, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-black/the-duty-of-happiness-becomes-clearer-when-we-see-how-it-affects/) [Hugh Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-black/) ## More by Tryon Edwards > [Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/science-has-sometimes-been-said-to-be-opposed-to-faith-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/credulity-is-belief-in-slight-evidence-with-no-evidence-or-against/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-another-name-for-our-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/every-parting-is-a-form-of-death-as-every-reunion-is-a-type-of-heaven/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-poison-of-human-life-the-parent-of-many-sins-and-of/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-first-step-to-improvement-whether-mental-moral-or-religious-is-to/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The leaves do not change color from the blighting touch of the frost, but from the process of natural decay. They fall when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-leaves-do-not-change-color-from-the-blighting-touch-of-the-frost/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Indolence is the dry rot of even a good mind and a good character; the practical uselessness of both. It is the waste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/indolence-is-the-dry-rot-of-even-a-good-mind-and-a-good-character-the/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [To rule one's anger is well; to prevent it is still better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-rule-one-s-anger-is-well-to-prevent-it-is-still-better/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-but-another-name-for-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [To rejoice in another prosperity, is to give content to your own lot: to mitigate another grief, is to alleviate or dispel your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-rejoice-in-another-prosperity-is-to-give-content-to-your-own-lot/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Hell is truth seen too late - duty neglected in its season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/hell-is-truth-seen-too-late-duty-neglected-in-its-season/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [No true civilization can be expected permanently to continue which is not based on the great principles of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/no-true-civilization-can-be-expected-permanently-to-continue-which-is/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [My books are my tools, and the greater their variety and perfection the greater the help to my literary work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/my-books-are-my-tools-and-the-greater-their-variety-and-perfection/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Anxiety is the rust of life, destroying its brightness and weakening its power. A childlike and abiding trust in Providence is its best preventive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-rust-of-life-destroying-its-brightness-and-weakening/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) [Explore all 104 Tryon Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## 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": "Seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tryon Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow-as-the-shadow-comes-with-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow-as-the-shadow-comes-with-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/tryon-edwards-4992_duty_seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow_2644816.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Seek for duty, and happiness will follow as the shadow comes with the sunshine.” — Tryon Edwards", "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": "Tryon Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Seek for duty, and happiness will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow-as-the-shadow-comes-with-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/seek-for-duty-and-happiness-will-follow-as-the-shadow-comes-with-the/#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 } } ] } ```