--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most men remember obligations, but not…" description: "\"Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and the vain silent.\" — William Gilmore Simms" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg" --- # Most men remember obligations, but not often to be… ![“Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and the vain silent.” quote by William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg) > “Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and the vain silent.” [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often recall duties but forget gratitude; pride can become bitterness, and vanity silences appreciation. **In simple terms:** Obligations remembered, gratitude forgotten. Key Takeaway Cultivate thankfulness over pride. Themes ethics gratitude pride Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - public speaking Key Concepts human nature memory Questions to Reflect On - What habits foster gratitude? - How does pride affect relationships? A Different Perspective Pride can obscure genuine appreciation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-remember-1228209/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Obligations Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligations-grateful-4802218/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Obligations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-obligations-3645869/) [Remembrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembrance/) [Remembrance Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembrance-vain-4802217/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Sour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sour/) [Sour Remembrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sour-remembrance-4802219/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [Most men remember obligations, but are not often likely to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and the vain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/most-men-remember-obligations-but-are-not-often-likely-to-be-grateful/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we are incapable of a proper sentiment of gratitude. To receive favors from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/to-feel-oppressed-by-obligation-is-only-to-prove-that-we-are/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/our-great-modern-republic-may-those-who-seek-the-blessings-of-its/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Let guilty men remember, their black deeds Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-webster/let-guilty-men-remember-their-black-deeds-do-lean-on-crutches-made-of/) [John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-webster/) > [And then, there will be some black men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and clenched teeth, and steady eye, and well-poised bayonnet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/and-then-there-will-be-some-black-men-who-can-remember-that-with/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“We’re wild things us men, and when we remember it we’re at our most dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/we-re-wild-things-us-men-and-when-we-remember-it-we-re-at-our-most/) [Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/) > [Adversity makes men remember God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/adversity-makes-men-remember-god/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [It's enough for you to do it once for a few men to remember you. But if you do it year after year, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-s-enough-for-you-to-do-it-once-for-a-few-men-to-remember-you-but/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“So long as men remember the wrongs done to their forebears, no peace will ever last. So”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/so-long-as-men-remember-the-wrongs-done-to-their-forebears-no-peace/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Men always remember a woman who caused them concern and uneasiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/men-always-remember-a-woman-who-caused-them-concern-and-uneasiness/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [When I want my men to remember something important, to really make it stick, I give it to them double dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/when-i-want-my-men-to-remember-something-important-to-really-make-it/) [George S. 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We chide at the grasping eye, the daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/ambition-is-frequently-the-only-refuge-which-life-has-left-to-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [The true law of the race is progress and development. Whenever civilization pauses in the march of conquest, it is overthrown by the barbarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/the-true-law-of-the-race-is-progress-and-development-whenever/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Better that we should err in action than wholly refuse to perform. The storm is so much better than the calm, as it declares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/better-that-we-should-err-in-action-than-wholly-refuse-to-perform-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/he-who-would-acquire-fame-must-not-show-himself-afraid-of-censure-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [What we call vice in our neighbor may be nothing less than a crude virtue. To him who knows nothing more of precious stones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/what-we-call-vice-in-our-neighbor-may-be-nothing-less-than-a-crude/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [The birth of a child is the imprisonment of a soul. The soul must work its way out of prison, and, in doing so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/the-birth-of-a-child-is-the-imprisonment-of-a-soul-the-soul-must-work/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Public opinion is the greatest force for good, when it happens to be on our side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/public-opinion-is-the-greatest-force-for-good-when-it-happens-to-be/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Vanity may be likened to the smooth-skinned and velvet-footed mouse, nibbling about forever in expectation of a crumb; while self-esteem is too apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/vanity-may-be-likened-to-the-smooth-skinned-and-velvet-footed-mouse/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Tact is one of the first mental virtues, the absence of it is fatal to the best talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/tact-is-one-of-the-first-mental-virtues-the-absence-of-it-is-fatal-to/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Neither praise or blame is the object of true criticism. Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe, and honestly to award. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/neither-praise-or-blame-is-the-object-of-true-criticism-justly-to/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) [Explore all 52 William Gilmore Simms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) ## More Be grateful quotes > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/be-calm-be-strong-be-grateful-and-become-a-lamp-full-of-light-that/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another for there will always be others whose lives on the face of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/enjoy-your-own-life-without-comparing-it-with-that-of-another-for/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [Speak what I have to be grateful for when I get up and when I lie down to sleep. 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They're supposed to eat your food, break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/kids-aint-supposed-to-be-grateful-they-re-supposed-to-eat-your-food/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) [Browse all 602 Be grateful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and the vain silent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Gilmore Simms" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-often-to-be-grateful-the-proud/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be grateful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-often-to-be-grateful-the-proud/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-of_2195916.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and…” — William Gilmore Simms", "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": "William Gilmore Simms", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most men remember obligations, but not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-often-to-be-grateful-the-proud/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/most-men-remember-obligations-but-not-often-to-be-grateful-the-proud/#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 } } ] } ```