On Duty

[jnanacandra]

Do not confuse "duty" with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect

Comments

[tzaddi_93]

Brilliant! Is that from one of Heinlein's novels, or some kind of speech/essay/interview? I've never read that before.

[jnanacandra]

Also found in the second intermission of Time Enough for Love. It jumped out at me yesterday when I was looking for the specialization quote.

[thiebes]

Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily.

Gee that's almost, uh, paradoxical! ;-)

Great post!

tangent inspired by lovely quote by Saint Heinlein

[elnigma]

When I thought about being a thelemite Ithought about becoming more "What I am" yet changing. Taking off the shells of junk that don't work, and living in what does.
I see people who try to instead find a new carapace, more shells to throw on themselves, knowing they don't fit, and that inside they aren't too comfortable.

What I don't get is they, while they are in their discomfort, then go tell me what I'm doing wrong. If they were happy and showing me how they were happy, I'd grin along and perhaps I'd think they'd have some advice to offer me. Or I'd just be glad they were loving their path (though different than mine perhaps) to the fullest, as I see some do.
What I see instead is so many cramped hearts.
Gods bless you for posting this. :>

Re: tangent inspired by lovely quote by Saint Heinlein

[osymandus]

Thats a post of the week for me :) .
It seems tied to Virtue in a sense as well . How we look after and maintain ourselves , we can then show the best part of ourselves and aide others if need be at an optimal level. :D

[amritarosa]

Abso-fucking-lutely.

I may have to re-post the quote in my journal- thanks!

[quetz]

I am in love with your mind.