Thomas Keneally Quotes

Holiness is not the luxury of a few people, but a simple duty for you and me.

There are two freedoms - the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.

Must not I then entertain the saints because I must keep my conscience.

I considered becoming a priest very seriously. I wanted to travel the world. By the time I turned 16, I realized I was only in it for selfish reasons. And, more importantly, I didn't want to sacrifice the ladies!

The truly longstanding tradition in the church is that some are called to celibacy. Some feel called to it. But the church has never supported that celibacy be mandated for someone not called to it. It's never imposed on someone.

My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. I was put to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church.

We are God's creation, and we have a responsibility to keep ourselves at our best.

Each is responsible for his own actions.

A conscientious man ought not to regard what may happen to him in this world.

Everyone has to have a sense of duty. A duty to society, to their family. I mean, you name it.

My mom wanted me to be a youth pastor, and when I became a comedian, she said it was close enough.

A duty religiously performed carries with it several other important consequences.

Duty, then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.

I declare my belief that it is not your duty to do anything that is not to your own interest. Whenever it is unquestionably your duty to do a thing, then it will benefit you to perform that duty.

The universe expects every man to do his duty in his parallel of latitude.

The Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanity to dedicate body, mind and soul to pure duty and not to become mental voluptuaries at the mercy of random desires and undisciplined impulses.

She had looked her duty courageously in the face and found it a friend - as duty ever is when we meet it frankly.

It is within my power either to serve God or not to serve Him. Serving Him, I add to my own good and the good of the whole world. Not serving Him, I forfeit my own good and deprive the world of that good, which was in my power to create.

Besides the five senses, there is a sixth sense, of equal importance--the sense of duty.

There is no such thing as duty. If you know that a thing is right, you want to do it. If you don't want to do it - it isn't right. If it's right and you don't want to do it - you don't know what right is and you're not a man.

Missionary service is a priesthood duty.

The thing for us to do is just to do our duty, and not worry about whether anybody sees us do it or not.

The last pleasure in life is the sense of discharging our duty.

Mama wanted me to be a preacher. I told her coachin' and preachin' were a lot alike.

St Paul said it is better to marry than to burn, but my mother taught me it is better to burn than to marry. She wanted to be a nun. She hoped I would be a priest and saved to give me an education while my friends plaited rope and trailed after the plough. I can't be a priest because although my heart is as loud as hers I can pretend no answering riot. I have shouted to God and the Virgin, but they have not shouted back and I'm not interested in the still small voice. Surely a god can meet passion with passion? She says he can. Then he should.