Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our dutyas we understand it.

-Lincoln, Abraham
  Speech, NewYork, 27 Feb.

We have been too comfortable and too indulgentömany, perhaps, too selfishöand the stern hand of fatehasscoured ustoan elevationwhere we can see the great everlasting things that matter for a nation; the great peaks we had forgotten, of honour, duty, patriotism, and, clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven.We shall descend into the valleys again, but as long as men and women of thisgeneration last, they will carry in their hearts the image of those great mountain peaks, whose foundations are not shaken, though Europe rock and sway in the convulsions of a great war.

-Lloyd George (of Dwyfor), David, 1st Earl
  Speech, London,19 Sep.

I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier whotried to dohis dutyas Godgavehimthelight to see that duty.

-MacArthur, Douglas
  Address to Congress after being relieved of his duty by President Truman,19  Apr.

I have not time to say any more, but to beg you will give my duty to the Queen, and let her know her army has had a glorious victory. MonsieurTallard and two other generals are in my coach, and I am following the rest.

-Marlborough,John Churchill, 1st Duke of
  Note written on a tavern bill to his wife, Sarah,13  Aug, after the Battle of Blenheim.

If we believe a thing to be bad, and if we have a right to prevent it, it is our duty to try to prevent it and damn the consequences. On the Morning of Christ's Nativity

-Milner, Alfred, 1st Viscount Milner
  On the blocking by the Conservative majority in the House of Lords of the Liberal Government's budget. Speech at Glasgow, Nov.

I wish to say Nelson confides that every man will do his duty.

-Nelson, Horatio,Viscount Nelson
  Instructions to the flag officer on HMS  Victory, 21 Oct. The signal was amended to begin,'England expects†'.

Thank God, I have done my duty.

-Nelson, Horatio,Viscount Nelson
  Last words at the Battle of  Trafalgar, quoted in Robert Southey Life of Nelson (1813), ch.9.

It is the professional duty of the advertising agent to conceal his artifice.When Aeschines spoke, they said, 'How well he speaks', but when Demosthenes spoke, they said 'Let us march against Philip.'

-Ogilvy, David
  Confessions of an  Advertising Man, ch.5.

As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of government to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith.

-Paine,Thomas
  Common Sense, ch.4.

We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies.Our interests are eternal, and it is our duty to follow them.

-Palmerston, HenryJohnTemple, 3rd Viscount
  Speech, House of Commons,1 Mar.

Sir, I have quarrelled with my wife; and a man who has quarrelled with his wife is absolved from all duty to his country.

-Peacock,Thomas Love
  NightmareAbbey, ch.11.

I am sure that the immediate abolition of the slave trade is the first, the principal, the most indispensable act of policy, of dutyand of justice the legislature of this country has to take, if it is indeed their wish to secure those important objects† For we continue to this hour a barbarous traffic in slaves, we continue it even yet, in spite of all our great and undeniable pretensions as civilisation.

-Pitt,William known as  theYounger
  Speech to the House of Commons, 2 Apr.The House did not abolish slavery until1806.

When people are too comfortable, it is not possible to restrain them within the bounds of their duty† They may be compared to mules who, being accustomed to burdens, are spoilt by rest rather than labour.

-Cardinal Richelieu
  Testament Politique.

The rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind, and†only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.

-Rockefeller,John D(avison),Jr
Credo engraved in Rockefeller Center Plaza, NewYork.

The first duty of a state is to see that every child born therein shall be well housed, clothed, fed and educated, till it attain years of discretion.

-Ruskin,John
  Time andTide, letter13.

Whena stupid manisdoing something heisashamedof, he always declares that it is his duty.

-Shaw, George Bernard
  Apollodorus. Caesar and Cleopatra, act 3.

The greatest of evils and the worst of crimes is poverty†our first dutyöa duty to which every other consideration should be sacrificedöis not to be poor.

-Shaw, George Bernard
  Major Barbara, preface.

There have been many crimes committed in the name of duty and obedienceömany more than in the name of dissent.

-Snow, C(harles) P(ercy), 1st Baron
  'Testimony of Four Peers', in Esquire, Dec.

As fattening is the first duty of fashionable female life, it must be duly enforced by the rod if necessary. I got up a bit of flirtation with missy, and induced her to rise and shake hands with me. Her face was lovely, but her body was as round as a ball.

-Speke,John Hanning
  In Karagwe, west of LakeVictoria, among the Galla people. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile.

The preservation of health is a duty.Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality.

-Spencer, Herbert
Education, ch.4.