“When duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies, I can.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1867
Duty. The term would seem to be associated with some kind of requirement or imperative—one associated with rules and regulations. A responsibility.
Make no mistake, duty is very much about responsibility. When an individual has duties, these are typically considered tasks, such as official duties.
Such duties are external to us, assigned by a taskmaster with a specific set of requirements and outcomes.
But various forms of duty are intrinsic, associated with ethics, behavior, and moral judgment.
These forms of duty are often deeply personal and ethically motivated, extending beyond mere adherence to societal rules or laws.
Let’s explore some of them in more detail. I’ve provided links in each example, plus some additional reading from our archives for your benefit.
As you mull these over, consider how they might apply to you, your team, or your personal life, and how that affects the choices you make.
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