Jonathan Powell Quotes

Character is made of duty and love and sympathy, and, above all, of living and working for others.

If someone as blessed as I am is not willing to clean out the barn, who will?

You get an opportunity to do something for your country, you better get out and do it.

The best way to do ourselves good is to be doing good to others; the best way to gather is to scatter.

Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.

Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is not an opportunity to satisfy personal greed.

To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he see you now, ask why?

No man has come to true greatness who has not felt that his life belongs to his race, and that which God gives to him, He gives him for mankind.

I'm not saving lives.

Survival is a privilege which entails obligations. I am forever asking myself what I can do for those who have not survived.

I felt sorry I enlisted.

Service to others is the rent you pay for space on earth.

I promise you that during my life, I was more concerned about not letting people down, about doing my part, than I was ever into what it did for me.

A person less fortunate than yourself deserves the best you can give. Because of duty, and honor, and service. You understand those words? You should do your job right, and you should do it well, simply because you can, without looking for notice or reward.

It is better to proceed with one's duty in the service of others than wallow in the pain attachments bring

Imagine young people would grow up with the feeling that you have to be a hero to do your human duty. I am afraid nobody would ever help other people, because who is a hero?

I think service is honorable, and that was always inculcated in me.

I'm looking out for myself, but I'm looking out for my dad, too.

One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.

As my dad said, you have an obligation to leave the world better than how you found it. And he also reminded us to be givers in this life, and not takers.

For me, 'Lamb' started out as a further exploration of the phenomenon of faith and the responsibility of a messiah that I touched on in 'Coyote Blue' and 'Island of the Sequined Love Nun,' but it ended up being an exploration of the true meaning of sacrifice, loyalty, and friendship.

A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society.

True religion... is giving and finding one's happiness by bringing happiness into the lives of others.

England expects that every man will do his duty.

Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.