--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They held it their duty to live but for…" description: "\"They held it their duty to live but for their country.\" — William Godwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/william-godwin-1978_country_they-held-it-their-duty-to-live-but-for_2992110.png" --- # They held it their duty to live but for their country. ![“They held it their duty to live but for their country.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/william-godwin-1978_country_they-held-it-their-duty-to-live-but-for_2992110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/william-godwin-1978_country_they-held-it-their-duty-to-live-but-for_2992110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/william-godwin-1978_country_they-held-it-their-duty-to-live-but-for_2992110.png) > “They held it their duty to live but for their country.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It expresses the belief that serving one's country is a moral obligation. **In simple terms:** Serving one's country is a duty. Key Takeaway Consider the responsibilities you have to your community. Themes patriotism duty service Mood thoughtful inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - military service - public office - community volunteering Key Concepts civic responsibility nationalism Questions to Reflect On - What does duty mean to you? - When should personal conscience override national duty? A Different Perspective Some may view duty differently; personal conscience may conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-live-4707536/) [Held](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held/) [Held Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-duty-4707535/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [England is a domestic country. Here the home is revered and the hearth sacred. The nation is represented by a family,--the Royal family,--and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/england-is-a-domestic-country-here-the-home-is-revered-and-the-hearth/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“It is your duty,' he said, 'to recover your country not by gold but by the sword. You will be fighting with all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/it-is-your-duty-he-said-to-recover-your-country-not-by-gold-but-by/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Don't die for the country! Don't die for the love! Don't die for anything! Always choose life! Under every circumstance this is your real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/don-t-die-for-the-country-don-t-die-for-the-love-don-t-die-for/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I believe that a country's first duty is to set its own house in order; and having set its own house in order, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cadle-price/i-believe-that-a-country-s-first-duty-is-to-set-its-own-house-in/) [George Cadle Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cadle-price/) > [To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-encourage-literature-and-the-arts-is-a-duty-which-every-good/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Since National Socialism came to power, I have striven to make its consequences milder for its victims and to prepare the way for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmuth-james-graf-von-moltke/since-national-socialism-came-to-power-i-have-striven-to-make-its/) [Helmuth James Graf von Moltke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmuth-james-graf-von-moltke/) > [Be sure to do your duty today, and let God Take care of the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-sure-to-do-your-duty-today-and-let-god-take-care-of-the-outcome/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obviously, the state's responsibility should be to legislate rules for a well-ordered society. 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Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [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 William Godwin > [I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. 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