--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men have the illusion of having a duty to…" description: "\"Men have the illusion of having a duty to make the world spin properly, which is precisely what makes it wobble.\" — Vernon Howard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/vernon-howard-2173_duty_men-have-the-illusion-of-having-a-duty-t_138222.png" --- # Men have the illusion of having a duty to make the world… ![“Men have the illusion of having a duty to make the world spin properly, which is precisely what makes it wobble.” quote by Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/vernon-howard-2173_duty_men-have-the-illusion-of-having-a-duty-t_138222.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/vernon-howard-2173_duty_men-have-the-illusion-of-having-a-duty-t_138222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/vernon-howard-2173_duty_men-have-the-illusion-of-having-a-duty-t_138222.png) > “Men have the illusion of having a duty to make the world spin properly, which is precisely what makes it wobble.” [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Men’s perceived duty to control order actually creates instability; humility restores balance. **In simple terms:** Recognize the limits of control. Key Takeaway Embrace humility over forced order. Themes philosophy humility control Mood reflective serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - leadership training - personal development workshops - family dynamics Key Concepts existential reflection self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What areas do you try to control unnecessarily? - How can you practice balanced responsibility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on humility may lead to passivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Having Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-duty-1568691/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Makes Wobble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-wobble-1568690/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-illusion-367580/) [Wobble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wobble-446067/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Spin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-spin-517247/) ## Related quotes > [I like having a duty. 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That is why up here they dance the Dark Morris, to balance it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-year-is-round-the-wheel-of-the-world-must-spin-that-is-why-up/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Haters, thanks for making my world spin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/haters-thanks-for-making-my-world-spin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Language tethers us to the world; without it we spin like atoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/language-tethers-us-to-the-world-without-it-we-spin-like-atoms/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Forward, forward let us range, Let the great world spin for ever down the ringing grooves of change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/forward-forward-let-us-range-let-the-great-world-spin-for-ever-down/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“The tightrope walk was an act of creation that seemed to stand in direct defiance to the act of destruction twenty-seven years later. About…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-tightrope-walk-was-an-act-of-creation-that-seemed-to-stand-in/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > ['Let the Great World Spin' at the end talks a lot about connections and light and possibility and the fact that the world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/let-the-great-world-spin-at-the-end-talks-a-lot-about-connections-and/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [Take a step as the world spin. Rumors come and go faster than a whirlwind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/take-a-step-as-the-world-spin-rumors-come-and-go-faster-than-a/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) ## More by Vernon Howard > [“A self-working individual will be sitting around home one day when the startling thought occurs, “Here I am, sitting around, doing nothing of interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/a-self-working-individual-will-be-sitting-around-home-one-day-when/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-terrible-immoralities-are-the-cunning-ones-hiding-behind-masks-of/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [No one on earth can hurt you, unless you accept the hurt in your own mind. . . 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Events can ruin your reputation, take your money, mistreat you, revenge itself upon you, deceive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/one-false-idea-is-that-anyone-can-hurt-you-events-can-ruin-your/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [Don't try to be unafraid. That is impossible. Rather, go ahead while being afraid. That is the entire secret for abolishing fear. The Supermind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/don-t-try-to-be-unafraid-that-is-impossible-rather-go-ahead-while/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [The only way to do something truly important every day is to seek to understand yourself every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-only-way-to-do-something-truly-important-every-day-is-to-seek-to/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [Make it absolutely clear to yourself what you want from other people. That is really half the secret for drawing your desire to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/make-it-absolutely-clear-to-yourself-what-you-want-from-other-people/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [The only reason you do not do great things is because you timidly cling to small things. Will you let loose of small things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-only-reason-you-do-not-do-great-things-is-because-you-timidly/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [Learn to see a problem from a higher level of understanding. Then, it dissolves before your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/learn-to-see-a-problem-from-a-higher-level-of-understanding-then-it/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) [Explore all 181 Vernon Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) ## 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. 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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. 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