--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To feel oppressed by obligation is only…" description: "\"To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we are incapable of a proper sentiment of gratitude. To receive favors from the unworthy is simpl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_to-feel-oppressed-by-obligation-is-only_2196773.jpg" --- # To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we… ![“To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we are incapable of a proper sentiment of gratitude. To receive favors from the unworthy is simply to admit that our selfishness is superior to our pride. Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful for them. The proud are made…” quote by William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_to-feel-oppressed-by-obligation-is-only_2196773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_to-feel-oppressed-by-obligation-is-only_2196773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/william-gilmore-simms-12905_be-grateful_to-feel-oppressed-by-obligation-is-only_2196773.jpg) > “To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we are incapable of a proper sentiment of gratitude. To receive favors from the unworthy is simply to admit that our selfishness is superior to our pride. Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful for them. 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. Feeling forced to act out of duty shows lack of genuine gratitude; accepting help from unworthy people reveals selfish pride. **In simple terms:** Obligation without gratitude shows selfishness. Key Takeaway Cultivate sincere appreciation, avoid selfish pride. Themes gratitude pride obligation Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace dynamics - charitable giving - family expectations Key Concepts moral psychology self‑interest Questions to Reflect On - What obligations do you fulfill without feeling grateful? - How can you express genuine thanks? A Different Perspective People may rationalize obligations as duty, masking selfish motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Favors Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors-unworthy-4808677/) [Feel Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-oppressed-616575/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Obligations Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligations-grateful-4802218/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Oppressed Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed-obligation-4808676/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remembrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembrance/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Sentiment Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiment-gratitude-4808678/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Sour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sour/) [Superiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiors/) [Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unworthy/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [Most men remember obligations, but not often 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-not-often-to-be-grateful-the-proud/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [If the Democrats have their way, African Americans will continue to feel oppressed, despised and handicapped into the indefinite future. 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Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [One of our people in the Native community said the difference between white people and Indians is that Indian people know they are oppressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/one-of-our-people-in-the-native-community-said-the-difference-between/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [So that is a shift I've seen from growing up: watching my parents feel oppressed by the hearing man, to now deaf people being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/so-that-is-a-shift-i-ve-seen-from-growing-up-watching-my-parents-feel/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [When I go around in America and I see the bulk of the white people, they do not feel oppressed; they feel powerless \[.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/when-i-go-around-in-america-and-i-see-the-bulk-of-the-white-people/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [What hurts this person is not the occurrence itself, for another person might not feel oppressed by this situation at all. What is hurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-hurts-this-person-is-not-the-occurrence-itself-for-another/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Nobody in this country goes around saying: 'I'm feeling very oppressed by the E.U.' Well, one or two people do, but they're a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/nobody-in-this-country-goes-around-saying-i-m-feeling-very-oppressed/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [Youth should be radical. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not accept the old order if the world is to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allen-white/youth-should-be-radical-youth-should-demand-change-in-the-world-youth/) [William Allen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allen-white/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [I have a lot of secret uses for sour cream, which is the magic ingredient in my mac and cheese. 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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. 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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. Meditation and prayer. I pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-taylor/speak-what-i-have-to-be-grateful-for-when-i-get-up-and-when-i-lie/) [Regina Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-taylor/) > [Be grateful for the love you have to share-share it, and it will return to you ten times over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/be-grateful-for-the-love-you-have-to-share-share-it-and-it-will/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [Kids aint supposed to be grateful! 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": "To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we are incapable of a proper sentiment of gratitude. To receive favors from the unworthy is simply to admit that our selfishness is superior to our pride. Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful for them. 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